A caravan and motorhome parking facility designed to encourage grey nomads to stop in Mount Isa is reportedly being chronically underused.
Back in 2019, Mount Isa City Council invested $85,000 in a facility on Frank Aston Hill that would allow larger vehicles to park between 6am and 9pm each day. It made a litter bin available at the site, although the facility does not have toilet facilities or access to water.
Despite the council’s high hopes, the North West Star reports that the site remains mostly empty of caravans in the peak season … and a lack of signage is being looked at as the reason why.
According to the newspaper, when the site was opened there was a temporary sign on the highway directing caravans to the site but that sign is no longer in place.
It's not always easy to find a parking space when you're driving a big rig. PIC: Dave Brightman
It says there is no permanent signage from Marian Street or Rodeo Drive directing towing vehicles from main roads towards the special RV parking area.
Mount Isa City Councillor for Tourism, Peta MacRae said signage options were currently under investigation.
“Additional road side signage is currently in the planning to ensure the CBD streets have minimal congestion, as a result of the welcomed increase in tourism,” Cr MacRae told the North West Star. “Council is excited to see tourism numbers swell this time of year … to accommodate for caravan and RV parking, Outback at Isa will continue to promote the parking arrangements at Frank Aston Hill and those at George McCoy Park.”
She said parking infringements for unsafe or dangerous actions are in place for all vehicles, not just the tourists, and will be monitored on an ongoing basis.
With traveller numbers high, Cr MacRae said that caravan parks working together were encouraging tourist stays.
“Local caravan parks are working collaboratively to ensure all parks are at capacity before guiding tourists to caravan overflow sites,” she told the North West Star. “This is ensuring the tourism dollar is maximised for local businesses.
Cr MacRae said that, if required, George McCoy Park, Tom O’Hara Park, Mount Isa Irish Club and the Golf Club are available for overflow.
I can understand why it’s being underused. I’m currently staying in the Mt Isa Big4, have done a lap of town (car only) to do shopping and didn’t see any sign of this caravan parking place.
Sitting here in the park and reading this story I decided to search Google to find it. Still no luck!
I’ll go for another drive and actually look for it now that I’ve heard about it.
little hill opposite kmart end of carpark .
Some towns are perfect as they provide wide streets with parking all down the main road, such as parts of Wagga, Cowra, Katherine, etc., others are hopeless as there is no parking anywhere for caravans, such as Canberra (my home town).
It’s not unique to Mt Isa. The tourist centre in Nowra has a car park with notices indicating caravan parking which are standard car parking spaces only with narrow access lanes where it is well nigh impossible to navigate a van in or out of any spot when a motor vehicle is/or parks next door. Stupidity at normal narrow minded attitudes.
Maybe lucky, not parking at Nowra though, I’ve been told by many people to not go there, the kids there, are not worth the risk?
Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing springs to mind.
“This is ensuring the tourism dollar is maximised for local businesses”
Says it all really. Extract maximum possible cash from the tourists.
Perhaps read reviews for Irish Club free camping – summed up as “if this place wasn’t here, we wouldn’t have stopped.
Surprise, surprise…it is on WikiCamps! Would love to know how long it would take to create and install some signs? When you read statements from politicians you wonder how much of their brain was removed to be that stupid……still not as stupid as us who vote for said zombies though!
Atherton in NQ has wonderful parking near its major shopping centre for big rigs.
My home town of Sheffield in Tasmania has just won a tourism award, but it is far from RV friendly. There is short stay camping near the local cricket ground, but there is virtually zero parking in town for rigs. The recent carpark upgrade behind the IGA and near the Bowls Club and RSL, has actually removed parking places for rigs and tourist buses! Very disappointing
Perhaps they could swap the time frames from 9pm to 6am
I used the area a lot for water and dump point when staying out of town but not with the van on. When we are in towns it’s to stock up and this parking area is to far from the shops and I’m sure Coles & Woolworths would not be happy going there each afternoon to pickup their trolleys.
One that we have frequently passed through and gave up on for anything other than fuel is Pt Augusta.
There’s plenty of Parking for large rigs behind the shops over looking the Gulf. Well there was in 2021 and 2023
We have only found the RV parking by accident. Kardina SA has one in btn Aldi & Woolies, and as it is not a very big town, it is convenient. Horsham had one spot, which was always occupied when we went past, and not long enough for us. There is usually no signage.
Yes it is a bit of a problem and the Towns / Shires that do not get organized and provide suitable Big Rig / Caravan parking closeto the Main SAtreet and facilities like Shops and Hotels etc are missing out on the Money the Carvaningm Grey Nomads ETC BRING to their Towns and Shires or at Least allow Large reigs to take up 1-2 or even 3 Standard CAR Park Spaces.
There used to be a RV/Caravan parking sign close to the parking area in question, sign since disappeared, likely removed by one of the unsavory types, spoiling it for others. The actual RV/Caravan parking area located on Rodeo Dv. & Alda St., 150-200m from the ‘Outback at Isa’ & ‘Hard Times Mine’, 100m past Hungry Jacks restaurant with the parking area being opposite the KMart/Coles carpark and within 75m of McDonalds restaurant. The RV parking location is approx 500m from/to Woolworths, although, that being said, Coles is in the Kmart precinct. As for shopping at one of the supermarkets and using a shopping trolley, then have the courtesy to return it from whence it came i.e. the supermarket, rather than leaving it outside and prone to theft and loss for the respective supermarket (owner) etc. Without signs, visitors (esp RV’ers/Grey Nomads, likely wouldn’t see or be aware what the bitumen/parking area is for (maybe think KMart/Coles carpark overflow).
Hopefully signage is sorted and more vandal proof. Although, pity the Isa, like other towns/cities can’t be made fully vandal proof from the undesirables of society, that give no second thought or consideration tp/of others.
As for maximising the tourist dollar, aint no one holding a gun to the ‘tourists’ or visitors head or wallets/purse. No one held to ransom. The aforementioned RV parking is free, all products, attractions and services are same cost to tourists as it is to locals. No discrimination or dual pricing.
Thank for the detailed info and well said.
The mantra of “overflow” is immeasurably unpopular with nomads – you don’t need town parking if your rig is going to a park. I for one will not be bullied and as a general rule I bypass towns that do not have camping facilities. Maybe other nomads are of the same view – the town misses out but the parks are full? There’s plenty of nomads that just don’t need the hassle of vanparks for a 2 or 3 night stand.
Councils don’t seem to comprehend that there’s two kinds of RV’ers – family longstay and short stay nomads. And I think that there’s a predominance of the latter. frigging around in a vanpark for 1 – 2 nights is not on for many and the consequence of the Council trying to force nomads into vanparks means that, like me, the town is not patronised. I won’t be bullied into a vanpark anytime – If I could stay at the showground or a simple camp they would have my custom. the vanparks are damaging the potential of the town’s retailers in their own selfish way.
Well, my introduction to Grey Nomading has started in DISASTER. Being a ” virgin” in Grey Nomading, I booked into a caravan park close to where I was living, transferring gear ( far too much) to the van but there was a mess up with my booking. The site I am on is far too small for my rig and vehicle and I am unable to learn anything about rigging up, annex construction etc.etc. I AM TOTTALLY STRESSED OUT. They say someone changed my site, with no-one taking responsibility, took my 6 weeks TOTAL site fee but CANNOT do anything about it. Once I have finalised my lease on the unit, I will be hitting the road and will need to ask lots and lots of assistance, so I hope you Grey Nomads are a REALLY friendly lot and not mind helping an extremely stressed “newbie”. Thanks for reading. Gaye
Sorry it has nothing to do without Isa but I did live there for 14 years and will certainly heading back up there, so shall be able to check out the site, thanks Gaye