Big van visit boom looms

GRAFTON is just one simple step away from becoming a recognised RV Friendly Town.

GRAFTON is just one simple step away from becoming a recognised RV Friendly Town.

The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) is the organisation which grants the approval and then lists the town as a good one for its 63,000 members to visit.

Susanne Murray from the CMCA said the process had reached a pause at present because they were awaiting a response from the Clarence Valley Council.

"The issue is basically just supplying short- and long-term parking for RVs at the showground," Ms Murray said.

"As soon as that is sorted we can give the go ahead.

"It would be great for Grafton to get this up and running because we have a rally coming up in October at Boonah, Queensland and it would be good to be able to recommend Grafton as a place for our 63,000 members to stop," Ms Murray said.

Speaking on behalf of the council, Des Schroder said: "The approval for the showground is before the traffic committee which is a joint effort between the RTA, the police and council.

"It is hoped the approval should be through within the month," he said. Mr Schroder said some caravan park owners had raised concern over whether a site at the Grafton Show Grounds would affect their business.

However he said that ultimately RV owners were looking for a different service compared to people who were travelling with caravans.

"RVs are self-contained so they are not looking to buy showers," Mr Schroder said.

He also said it was estimated that RV owners brought $80,000 into the Grafton economy over the course of the Jacaranda Festival when RV facilities were made available.

"If you are not an RV friendly town you will miss that market.

"The impetus is on growing tourism as a whole, not one sector or another," Mr Schroder said.

Originally published as Big van visit boom looms