The Shire of Harvey in WA’s south west has issued an interim report into the effectiveness of its trial into allowing free RV parking at several sites … and the news is encouraging.
The local authority began the 12-month trial in March, allowing 48-hour stops at a limited number of bays at the Brunswick Junction Showgrounds; the Leschenault Estuary Eco Museum at Australind; Snell Park in Harvey; and Teesdale Street Recreation Ground in Yarloop.
While the Snell Park site had to close in July due to some safety concerns being raised – and despite some teething issues with the booking system – the sites have been well used in the first six months of the trial.
An unused basketball court site within the Harvey Recreation Grounds has now been identified as an alternative RV Stop site in Harvey, replacing Snell Park.
The survey found that most travellers are using their smartphones to book places to stay and things to see and do. PIC: Cizza
Data showed there had been a total 731 bookings through the booking platform from a total of 252 users.
This translated into several users making multiple bookings around the Harvey Region adhering to the restrictions of one 48-hour stay per location without returning to the site for five consecutive days.
A Harvey Region RV Friendly Trial User Survey was conducted, with the results showing:
• 125 users completed the 10-question survey
• The highest users of the RV sites were aged 51 and above
• The most popular destinations were Harvey and Australind
• 123 respondents shopped locally specifically on groceries, fuel, dining and retail
• 73% of respondents spent $100 or more during their stay in the Harvey region
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday were the most popular nights for stays
• Travellers used their smartphones to research places to stay and things to do
The move towards the implementation of the RV Trial was spurred on by the Harvey Region Strategic Report released in 2021, that highlighted a severe lack of accommodation in the region.
The council has approved the trial continuing for another six months.
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As a former Shire councillor I fought for 10 years to try and get this in place. At the time harvey would not have a bar of it. I praise the current councillor’s and staff for finally seeing the potential for the region
‘wonder what were the interests of the opponents? Wouldn’t be the nearby retailers/restaurants and the like. Go figure who misses out from low rate stopping!