CARAVANNERS are now welcome to stay at the Hobart Showground in Tasmania.

Hobart Showground's  first 'self-contained' caravan settles in for the night

The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania has won official approval to allow overnight stays at the site after it was closed last year while planning permission was sought.

But Society operations manager Peter Derkley told Caravanning News caravans would have to be 'self-contained'.

He explained: "Our permit to operate the camping ground specifies that we may only take self-contained caravans or motorhomes. Our definition of self-containment specifies that campers should check the following list before checking in: Are you self-contained? Do you carry water and store wastewater in dedicated tanks? If you answered no to these questions you are not permitted to camp at this site."

Society chief executive Philip Le Grove said: "We're open for business, offering sites for self-contained caravans and motorhomes. We concentrated our approval submission on the self-contained sector, those vans that have grey and black water storage and carry their own fresh water supply, because this is the sector that has been clamouring for accommodation at the showground."

The approval does not include tent camping.

The Campervan and Motor Home Club of Australia claimed the temporary closure of the showground meant that the holiday plans of many interstate members did not include southern Tasmania.

Mr Le Grove thanked the many supporters who had assisted his society gain official approval.

"The local business sector, the tourism industry and campervan interests all threw their weight behind our application," he said.

At a time when the 'grey nomad' phenomenon continued to grow strongly in Australia, travellers were having difficulty finding appropriate accommodation in southern Tasmania.

"You can see the evidence in the number of motorhomes found in council carparks, and at beach and bush reserves around Hobart," he said.

Mr Le Grove estimated that at the height of the tourism season, the showground could inject up to $10,000 daily into the local Glenorchy economy.

The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania believed self-contained caravans and motorhomes had little or no impact on the local environment and this was why the self-contained sector has been targeted for the showground.

Caravans carrying their own fresh water could restock and also dispose of stored waste in the designated approved dump point. Travellers could also connect to the showground's power supply to supplement and recharge their onboard electrical systems.

Overnight fees are $16 for a powered site and $11 for unpowered. The maximum stay is 14 days.

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