Caravan park operators seeking to upgrade their facilities have been given a big shot in the arm by the Federal Budget.
As part of an overall package of $48 million for tourism and travel support, the Government is to provide funding over two years from 2022 to 2024 to assist caravan parks swiftly to upgrade or create new infrastructure and visitor facilities to enhance visitor experience, including improvements to accessibility.
This program is expected to open in November 2022. The Government says applications will be merit based and only the most competitive applications will receive funding.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia Chief Executive, Stuart Lamont, said the targeted Federal infrastructure support package recognised the growing and critical value of caravanning to Australia’s tourism and visitor economy.
WIth van parks getting ever busier, the Government is offering grants for upgraded infrastructure. PIC: Cizza
“Caravanning has long been Australian domestic tourism’s largest visitor and economic cohort, an almost $24 billion economic driver in tourism and local manufacturing activity,” he said. “This well-targeted funding will go directly into our world leading caravan park product across the nation … we also believe it will extract private capital expenditure support up to three times over.”
Mr Lamont said that, incentivising caravan parks to deliver more attractive visitor amenities was ‘just the ticket to supporting sustainable recovery and growth in Australian tourism’.
“Caravan parks nationwide will keenly apply,” he said. “The grants will develop new, appealing visitor product including cabins, recreation facilities and innovative features such as supporting accessible tourism”.
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providing those assisted are not privately owned and those that are assisted do not ‘raise’ their fees because of updated ammenaties
Great initiative, there also needs to be more overnight highway test stops that can be used similar to the US style ones on the highways
Hey hang on a minute these are either council or privately owned parks, they charge holiday maker’s / vacationers to stay it’s a business why can’t they use those takings which some is profit to build infrastructure like other businesses do, not use TAX payers money. How about more free camping made available with clean ablutions and potable water. A lot of Grey Nomads and Travellers can’t afford current caravan park charges now let alone pricing once their infrastructure is completed !
So we now have the privilege of paying 40 to 50 dollars per night for a bit of power & water plus they want a share of our taxes. Little wonder more of us are looking for free camps.
Sorry but electricity has gone up cleaning has gone yard work is expensive rates have gone up so how do think poor people that have private parks can survive this about it
I’m hoping it may assist the efficient Caravan Park operators , generally in our travels with our Caravan we have found most Parks are very good. As an older couple we depend on reasonably priced Caravan Park fees to enable us to have a reasonable holiday .
However, will these ‘upgrades’ mean more cabins and less and unpowered sites, pricing lower income people out of caravan parks?
Would also hope that if they accept tax payers money they should also accept taxpayer pets
This will be a rort, the big chain franchise Parks will win, they don‘t need taxpayer dollars, they make enough! we can‘t afford the tourist parks, only the shire run town parks which are reasonable, better to spend tax payer funding on better rest stops and facilities, they are woeful and inadequate in W.A…..ask any truckie
I don’t understand why privately owned caravan park’s shouldn’t be assisted? They have struggled more than anyone else over the last few years. All small businesses receive incentives, so why shouldn’t they? Parks are expensive to run and maintain, most private owners do not have spare cash to throw around.