Caravan dealer Brisbane RV hits rocky road, calls in administrators Worrells

One of Queensland’s biggest recreational vehicle dealers has gone into administration owing an estimated $4 million, with customers worried their “substantial” deposits may be gone for good.

Recreational vehicle dealer Brisbane RV has called in voluntary administrators.

WHEELS COME OFF

TROUBLE in caravan land, with one of Brisbane’s biggest recreational vehicle dealers going into administration owing an estimated $4 million. Worrells have been appointed as administrators to BJ Saggers Investments, trading as Brisbane RVs, in the latest sign that the previously buoyant caravan industry may be coming off the boil.

Brisbane RVs, run by chief executive Brendan Saggers, has operated for about 15 years

selling new and used caravans and motor homes from its Burpengary sales yard.

One customer told City Beat that he had paid a “substantial deposit” on a caravan from Brisbane RV, money he fears he will never see again.

“This is happening again and again in the caravan industry,” said the customer, who did not wish to be named. “There has to be a better system to protect people’s money, perhaps with funds placed in trust accounts.”

The customer, who works in the mining industry and lives in his caravan that he was hoping to upgrade, has contacted administrators Worrells to see if he can get his money back.

Brisbane RVs was not available for comment on Monday but Worrells partner Raj Khatri says customers who have paid deposits on vans should contact the manufacturers directly.

Khatri says the business continues to trade while several partially completed vans are finished. As to the reasons for the troubles of the business, he points to increasing competition.

ARC TO THE RESCUE

IT’S been a busy 12 months for Victor Vicario, founder of Australia’s first hardware incubator. Arc. Arc, which celebrated its first birthday last month, has ticked off wearable safety devices for miners, 3D printed spectacles and a digital tape measure among some of the products it has helped develop. The incubator, which operates out of a former pub in Fortitude Valley, is now partnering with venture capital firm Artesian to help start-ups in the renewable energy and agribusiness sectors.

Vicario tells your diarist that start-ups which qualify will be offered up to $50,000 in seed capital to help develop their ideas.

The lawyer and intellectual property expert founded Arc after realising that someone with a great idea for a physical product, as opposed to an app or software, had little access to capital or advice. Arc brings together everything under one roof, including electronic labs, 3D printers, laser cutters and moulding machines.

CRASH AND BURN

THE fracas at Lutwyche Shopping Centre over parking just keeps getting worse as the $40 million upgrade of the 1970s-era centre drags on.

The centre, which is about to introduce a highly unpopular paid parking system for both customers and tenants, is now under fire from one City Beat reader whose car was seriously damaged during a recent shopping trip.

The reader says he was exiting the car park onto Chalk St in January when a temporary gate installed as part of construction works without any warning swung into the path of his vehicle, causing extensive damage to the passenger side.

He is now facing a panel beating bill of more than $1500 because of what he claims is negligence by the centre owners.

But he has received little sympathy from the centre, which is denying any responsibility. “Our investigations have shown there is no fault with the area or the gate,” Lutwyche says through it insurance assessor Proclaim, before signing off with “the centre wishes you all the best.”

Our spies tells us there have been other incidents during the construction phase of the centre, including a nasty bingle near the car park exit in Chalk St.

That warranted the installation of a no right turn sign at the exit. City Beat has sought comment from centre owners Abacus Property Group.