Dave Biggar’s Zone RV in Coolum enters administration, jobs at risk

A business director claimed he ‘couldn't be happier’ with the luxury caravan company just one year before it collapsed, leaving hundreds of jobs at risk.

Qld caravan giant Zone RV collapses, 250 jobs at risk, Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A caravan business director said “he couldn’t be happier” with the company’s position only a year before its collapse, leaving hundreds of workers at risk of losing their jobs.

Zone Manufacturing Pty Ltd, the company behind Zone RV in Coolum Beach, and Zone Holdings Pty Ltd both entered voluntary administration on Monday morning according to documents lodged with ASIC.

Director Dave Biggar is also the director of Cure Marine Holdings Pty Ltd, which has not gone into administration and which crafts lightweight carbon fibre catamarans using equipment like the southern hemisphere’s largest 3D printer.

David Biggar, director of luxury caravan builder Zone RV, which is in administration.

In a video posted to the Zone RV YouTube channel on July 3, 2024, Mr Biggar discussed his 10-year journey from building yachts to transitioning into the caravan space.

“My passion in my early days through yacht racing really led me to the industry of boat building, and I guess those years through building lightweight yachts I’m getting a really good understanding on structure how we go about composite construction, lightweight interiors, off grid performance, electrical plumbing and all the systems around off-grid liveability,” Mr Biggar said.

“Couple that with then moving into more of the composites industry, flat panel servicing the transport market and a few other industries.

“Once in the flat panel business really then go and well you know I think the opportunity is too good here not to have a crack in the RV industry, and that’s what led us almost 10 years ago now to start Zone RV.”

Zone RV invested $7.5 million in a 5,000 square metre facility at Coolum Eco Industrial Park. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A 2022 Sunshine Coast Council Media Release detailed that Zone RV invested $7.5 million in a 5000sq m facility at Coolum Eco Industrial Park.

A 2022 Queensland Government media release also stated that Zone RV received a grant of more than $1.4m courtesy of a Queensland Government Made in Queensland grant.

The then Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher said in the 2022 announcement the grant would help Zone RV invest in new equipment, while creating more jobs.

In the YouTube video posted a year ago, Mr Biggar said the business was “in a very good place” in the RV industry.

In a YouTube video posted a year ago, Mr Biggar said “we are in a very good place in the RV industry”. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We know we have got huge amounts left in the tank for what we are going to deliver in the product and also where we want to get to as a datum for our own selves in what we’re delivering in quality, on time and all the key factors that you know mean something to us from a manufacturing and just keeping our client 10o per cent satisfied,” Mr Biggar said.

“As long as we keep aiming at doing that we will stay in the you know space we’re in, which at the moment I couldn’t be happier that we are in a very good place in the RV industry”.

Customers have expressed their despair

Customers have expressed their despair following the collapse, with one revealing they had allegedly lost more than $80,000 of their life saving.

John Horder commented on Facebook they were “expected to take delivery on their new Zone caravan”.

Mr Horder and his partner had reportedly lost “$85,000 of our life’s saving, we are just a hard working couple,” Mr Horder commented.

Liam Germann who works for the company said he was on “workcover for an injury about a month ago”.

“Got an email and tried calling and I can’t work for another month very frustrating,” Mr Germann said.

Tyson Stick supplied materials to Zone RV.

“Thoughts are with all the great staff I have created relationships with, and for all the people that have been affected paying for vans they will never see,” Mr Stick said.

Originally published as Dave Biggar’s Zone RV in Coolum enters administration, jobs at risk