The continued sale of caravan parks to developers is a major threat the caravanning lifestyle and the government needs to act before it is too late, says Australia’s leading caravan manufacturer.
Jayco boss, Gerry Ryan, told Fairfax that state and federal governments need to open up more national parks for camping, to ensure Australians can continue to go caravanning and camaping, while boosting government coffers.
“You are seeing some of the parks, some of the best real estate, being turned into residential housing that gives a better return,” Mr Ryan told Fairfax, adding that hardly any new holiday parks were being built. “People have been camping for years and will continue to camp for years, and we need to make sure that we have got the facilities, the campgrounds, for people to park their vans.”
Despite the sale of parks, Jayco is continuing to grow rapidly and the company – which controls about 45% of the Australian market – will likely make 11,000 caravans in its Dandenong factory this year, and 11,600 in 2016.
Mr Ryan identifies motorhomes as a particularly strong growth area, and he is forecasting about 50% growth in the segment in the next three years.
allow the sale of parks but don’t allow change of use
I don’t know if my comments were moderated out so I will try again. The manufacturers of caravans should be buying parks with the profits they make from those who buy their product. Invest in the industry.