CARAVANNING NEWS - August 2010 edition


LINKS	REST AREAS	CARAVAN MANUFACTURERS	OWNERS' FORUMS	FUEL PRICES	CARAVAN CLUBS	LIVE TRAFFIC CAMS
Queensland outback	Carnarvon Gorge	Moore Park Beach turtles	Sydney circular	Santa's trip	Formula One interlude	Imbil

Brisbane Weather Forecast, Australia

August 2010

BREAKING NEWS

Sunshine State Adria dealer closes its doors

QUEENSLAND'S major dealer in Adria caravans has hit troubled waters. Brisbane-based Euro RV has gone into voluntary administration and closed the doors at its Moorooka premises. Only last year its managing director Eric De Cock was reporting "brisk interest" in the Slovenian-built caravans following their successful showing at the Queensland Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show. While not importers of the popular lightweight range of caravans, Euro RV was the official distributor in the Sunshine State. The company was formed five years ago under the umbrella of Brisbane Proton and claimed to be Adria's number one Austtralian dealer. Attempts by Caravanning News to contact Euro RV and Brisbane Proton failed. No one was at their sales yard and telephone calls were met with a recorded message giving opening hours. The recorded message service had been disabled.

Worried caravanners protest to Minister

By DENNIS AMOR

ASTONISHING news that learner drivers in Queensland are legally permitted to tow caravans has met with howls of protest.

Members of an online caravanners' forum have now written to the state's Transport Minister after hearing that unqualified drivers are allowed to haul trailers and RVs up to 4.5 tonnes.

One forumite wrote: "That's scary stuff. Having a fully licensed driver in the passenger seat does not help an L-plater in a crisis."

And traveller Clive Howard, who has been towing caravans for 34 years, told Caravanning News: "It's scandalous that this should be allowed. Do the powers-that-be in Queensland realise just how dangerous it could be to unleash these inexperienced people onto our roads without having first proved their proficiency."

Caravanning News requested a response from Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan but received no reply from her office.

Mystery of the great undies heist
AN undercover thief has struck at a north Queensland caravan park ... leaving a traveller desperately short of undies. Now NSW caravanner Marie Hewson wants to get to the bottom of the mystery of why someone should take a shine to her husband's eight pairs of underpants.

Aspen under fire as site fees skyrocket
A FURIOUS battle over soaring annual site fees at Aspen parks in Victoria continues to gather momentum. Perth-based Aspen Parks, which operates a nationwide chain of caravan parks, is under fire after jacking up prices at six of its holiday destinations in the state's Echuca and Moama areas.

Earthquake rouses caravanners from their slumbers
QUORN Caravan Park in South Australia's Flinders Ranges prides itself on its peaceful surroundings. But things were far from tranquil at the three-and-a-half star, 110-site park when caravanners were shaken from their slumbers by an early morning 4.2 earthquake. It was the second biggest 'quake recorded in the state this year and shook the home of the caravan park's resident owners, Gary and Bronwyn Lucas. Bronwyn said the tremor lasted for only a few seconds but had her leaping out of bed.

Park continues award-winning ways
THE four-and-a-half star Deniliquin Paringa Holiday Park in NSW, a member of the BIG4 chain, has won another top award. It carried off the title of best tourist and caravan park in the state's 2010 CountryLink Inland Tourism Awards. The riverside park was last year named best park in the prestigious CCIA awards.

Bring back our discounts, plead grey nomads
CASH-strapped grey nomads are protesting over a decision to axe senior discounts at a Queensland caravan park. Nearly 50 travellers have sent a petition to Bundaberg Regional Council asking for their cheap rate at the three-and-a-half star Finemore Holiday Park in Bundaberg to be reinstated. But the council has said the $138-a-week charge for powered sites brings the riverside park into line with its three other parks.

Riding on air through harsh outback
JUSTIN Clarke's innovative new caravan which has adjustable airbag suspension to allow easy access for the disabled has conquered some of Australia's harshest terrain with flying colours. "The caravan went very well and handled the rough roads with ease," the boss of JPC Engineering in Toowoomba, Queensland, told Caravanning News.

Government funding for tornado-ravaged park
THE New South Wales government has chipped in with a $50,000 handout to a caravan park ravaged by a freak tornado. Lands Minister Tony Kelly said the funding would help repair and upgrade the amenities building at Lake Ainsworth Tourist Park.

Carnage prompts police warning
TWO elderly travellers died and others were hurt in a horror month of road accidents involving caravans. And the carnage prompted a warning from WA police after four smashes involving caravans in as many days in the Pilbara region.

Beachside park turning green
HAWKS Nest Beach Holiday Park on New South Wales' mid-north coast is going green. The 261-site beachside caravan park has launched an environment sustainability scheme by providing recycling bins, water savers and timers in showers, bore water pumps, water tanks at some new cabins and solar lighting in parts of the grounds.

Top Tourist member getting bigger
ONE of Port Macquarie's oldest caravan parks in NSW is getting bigger. The 45-site Leisure Tourist Park, a member of the Top Tourist chain, has bought an adjoining 6ha parcel of land, making it among the largest parks in the historic town. Owner-manager Ivan Havlic told Caravanning News that the acquisition meant the three-and-a-half star park was now catering for larger rigs such as fifth wheelers.

Minister promises more Crown land parks
THE number of caravan parks in New South Wales is set to increase, according to a government minister. Lands Minister Tony Kelly made the promise during a visit to the three-and-a-half star, 109-site Clarkes Beach Holiday Park in Byron Bay where he opened the latest phase of a $900,000 upgrade.

Hundreds sign petition over rising site fees
HUNDREDS of caravanners have signed a petition over price increases at a heritage-listed Sunshine Coast caravan park in Queensland. Now they are threatening to boycott the 476-site Cotton Tree Caravan Park at Maroochydore, which usually fills to overflowing with grey nomads seeking winter sunshine.

Caravan boom keeps manufacturers happy
MORE Australians are holidaying on the road than ever before, according to the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia. Jubilant manufacturers turned out nearly 20 percent more RVs during the 2009-2010 financial year to meet the booming demand.

Roadhouse opens new caravan park
A WA roadhouse has thrown down the welcome mat for grey nomads and other travellers ... by opening a new caravan park. "We had a very big demand so a new caravan park and more ablution blocks were definitely on our renovation list," Roebuck Plains Roadhouse manager Shannon Mentiplay told Caravanning News.

Lightweight Adrias prove popular with Aussie buyers
MORE and more imported Adria caravans are hitting Australian roads, it has been revealed. "This year’s national shows have been very successful for Adria with nearly $2 million in sales achieved, again showing there is a need for lightweight caravans in Australia," RV Asia Pacific general manager Chris Swann told Caravanning News.

Grey nomad wanted cops to shoot him dead, court told
GREY nomad Tom Brennan has had his travels curtailed after ramming a police car with his ute and caravan during an astonishing fit of road rage. The 51-year-old was jailed after a court heard how he wanted police to shoot him dead following an altercation with the boss of a Warwick caravan park in Queensland.

Jayco opens new factory to meet booming demand
JAYCO, Australia's biggest builder of recreational vehicles, is boosting production with a new $7 million state-of-the-art purpose-built factory. The additional 8000sq m assembly line is a major milestone in the company's history and has generated an extra 150 jobs, bringing its total workforce to 850.

Not so friendly reaction to CMCA scheme
THE controversy over whether to turn Warwick in Queensland into an RV-friendly town continues to rage. Angry words were thrown when the subject was raised at a recent meeting of Southern Downs Regional Council, opponents telling councillors they were disgusted that caravanners and other travellers would be allowed to camp free in the town.

No welcome mat at NSW showground
NAMBUCCA Shire Council in NSW has decided not to put out the welcome mat for caravanners and other travellers at its local showground. It believes that opening the Macksville Showground for overnight or short-term stays would conflict with the ground's approved uses.

Power to the hi-tech grey nomads
A MAJOR battery supplier is stepping up production of deep cycle batteries to meet the growing demand from grey nomads. SuperCharge Batteries say that sales are soaring as modern hi-tech travellers use more and more electrical appliances and electronics in their recreational vehicles.

Phoenix 'breaks new ground with fifth-wheeler'
QUALITY caravan builder Phoenix is understood to be building its first fifth-wheeler. A partly finished model has reportedly been spotted at the Queensland company's factory in Caboolture north of Brisbane.

That's some rig you've got there!

WE all know that touring caravans have been getting bigger, but this is ridiculous! Travellers at the three-and-a-half star Arno Bay Caravan Park on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia thought they were seeing things when this giant "rig" edged its way past their caravans.

New Aussie Wide dealer hits cyberspace
DAVE Benson Caravans in Gepps Cross has been appointed the new South Australian distributor of Aussie Wide Caravans. Bensons has also hit cyberspace and is now marketing itself on the highly popular YouTube site (click here).

Council buys caravan park to ensure river access
A NEW South Wales council has bought a caravan park to ensure community access to the local river. The local mayor said the 85-site park, a member of the Top Tourist chain, was part of the town's heritage.

Helping you plan your show visits
THOUSANDS of enthusiasts will flock to caravan and camping shows this year. And to help you plan your visits, Caravanning News has compiled a list of dates and venues of upcoming events.

For stories from the last six editions of Caravanning News, click on the appropriate month:


July 2010	June 2010	May 2010	April 2010	March 2010	February 2010

Editor: Dennis Amor
PO Box 678
Caloundra
Queensland 4551
Australia
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NEWS DOWNLOADS REACH 95,000 MONTHLY

MORE and more caravanners are turning to Caravanning News to keep abreast of what's happening in the world of caravanning. Page downloads recently reached 95,000 monthly ... with more than 80 percent of visitors adding us to their favourites, too.

LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

Jumping castles and kids not for all grey nomads

MR Baillee may well be correct when he says that caravan parks are only 50 percent occupied (see story here), but many grey nomads are not interested in jumping castles, video games rooms and the like. They only want a clean bathroom and toilet area with power and water available for their RV. They don’t want to see kids running in and out of these facilities either. And the price must be right. Some parks today are putting in more cabins, more playground thingos and increasing prices, but grey nomads are not interested in these things. Park operators might well consider charging a base rate of say $35 for grey nomads who don’t require the extras, a family rate for two adults and two children, an extended family rate four children instead of the base rate plus so much for each additional person. A family of 2+2 might be $50. This would remove the stigma of say $35 base rate for 2 adults plus $9 per child or person thereafter. These figures are based on what the local council charges are here on the Gold Coast for their 'van parks, which are also losing 'van sites to the cabins.

Jim Winchester
Main Beach, Qld

Re: RV-friendly towns breaking the law in your previous issue. I wonder if Barry Baillee has ever travelled in a caravan or if he has tried to get a site in the caravan park at Cobar after 4pm

Gary

When money goes flying
past towns

I JUST can't believe what councillors are thinking when they are saying stop free camping. They are crazy. Money just goes flying past their towns. I can tell you most caravan clubs these days keep a record of receipts over their rally weekends just to let their members know how much money was spent. Just ask the Rockhampton councillors how much money they expect will be spent when the 33 Queensland CCC state caravan clubs rally there in 2013.

Michael J Piper
Palm Beach

Barrage of foul language with wide load

TRAVELLING north on the Bruce Highway in Queensland recently I came up behind a massive 7.5m wide load being escorted by police and road pilots. I was astounded at the verbal abuse being hurled at some caravanners by one of the pilots on the UHF radio ... and even more so by the barrage of the foulest language I have heard for a long time when a father with children in his vehicle dared to ask him to moderate his language.

Grey nomad
Queensland

Brochure idea to ease overtakers' frustrations

ON a recent trip to Rocky via Biloela and back on the A1 to Brisbane I was frustrated by the lack of road manners of fellow caravanners and RV drivers. The frustration of truck drivers and other road users can be heard on the UHF when 80km/h drivers ignore the right of other road users to travel at the speed limit. Although this subject has been raised before, a solution has not been found. Perhaps a brochure in all registration renewals of RVs and caravans to inform them of common dangers and use of UHF radios. Maybe there should be laws to make it compulsory for slow vehicles pull off and let accumulated traffic pass.

D.P.

Like having your own bathroom from home

JUST stayed at the Cane Village caravan park in Bundaberg ... showers and toilets first class and clean. They were a credit to the owners and like having your own bathroom from home.

Dave & Betty Watson
Caboolture, Qld

WORLD BRIEFS

The Caravan Channel in cyperspace

BRITAIN'S popular Caravan Channel TV show has been running for four years and has now launched a weekly online version. Take a look by clicking here or on the graphic above.

Red faces after parents leave child behind

RED-FACED caravanners had a lot of explaining to do when they accidentally left their 12-year-old son behind at Swiss petrol station. The hapless British couple thought he was asleep in their caravan, but he had wandered into the shop as they refuelled. They collected him two hours later after pulling over and realising he was not in the 'van.

The UK's Caravan Club has sent a letter to every MP revealing just how much their members contribute each year to their constituency. Its members spend over $800 million in local economies gevery year.

A WOMAN died and eight other holidaymakers were seriously injured when a tornado swept more than 20 caravans into a lakeside campsite near Doetinchem in Holland.

SEVENTY-three-year-old Welshman William Roberts had a shock when he woke up in his caravan ... it was under tow! He managed to escape when the thieves pulled into a roadside area some miles away. The two thieves were later arrested.

NEARLY a hundred companies have signed up for the International Caravanning Show in Barcelona, Spain. The major nine-day trade show opens on October 9 and will also incorporate the
sixth annual Caravan and Motorhome Convention, organised by the Caravan Association of Catalonia and the Lleure Camper Club.

ENGLISHMAN Wally Jinks who scooped $4m on the lottery with his friend, has vowed to upgrade his caravan and continue touring along the Yorkshire coast. The 51-year-old was already on holiday when he learned of his windfall.

PORT Haverigg caravan park in Britain's Lake District will feature in a new television commercial for fast food chain McDonald's to be screened later this year.

Odd Spot

THE dilemma of choosing a tow vehicle to haul your caravan can be headache. But the owner of this particular caravan has a unique solution to the problem. Click on the film to find out why.