Some States Shutdown Caravan Parks & Campgrounds
The last 24 hours has brought much confusion to Caravan Park operators, guest, and the RV travelling community. Following the National Cabinet meeting, 24th March, the Prime Minister gave discretion to the respective states to determine whether they will close Caravan Parks and campgrounds. In the last few days, some states have released announcements to close their parks and campgrounds, except for ‘essential travellers’.
Essential Travellers per Australian Government guidelines as:
“The Government has seen that workers, people who live within caravan parks, and also people who are travelling around Australia and cannot get back to their place of residence, are classed as essential travellers and are welcome at caravan parks.”
Each respective state has announced the following information:
New South Wales
Effective 25 March 2020
* Caravan parks and camping grounds in New South Wales are to remain closed except to permanent residents and visitors. It includes people who have no other place of permanent residence.
Northern Territory
Effective 25 March 2020
* Caravan Parks remain open, however, all campgrounds in national parks and reserves remain closed.
Queensland
Effective 27 March 2020
* Caravan Parks are to remain closed except to people who are living permanently. If they are also staying in caravan parks as interim abodes where their primary residence is not available.
* All non-commercial camping grounds are to close.
Tasmania
Effective 25 March 2020
* Caravan Parks are to remain closed except to serve residents and site tenants. It includes those who do not have a permanent place of residence. All interstate and international tourists must leave Tasmania by Sunday the 29th of March.
Victoria
Effective 25 March 2020
* Caravan and Camping parks are to remain closed except to people who are living permanently. If they are also providing interim abode where the primary residence is not available.
* Closing of all non-commercial caravan parks and camping grounds in national parks and state-owned land.
Currently, caravan parks remain open in South Australia and Western Australia.
75,000 Road Travellers Crossing Borders
At any day in Australia, there are some 75,000 people travelling with Caravans or with RVs. Whilst the Government is implementing steps they deem necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus, these steps are going to place undue stress and pressure on these people. A lot of these people are going to be trying to get home and deal with each states respective cross border polices. Each state’s cross border polices can be found HERE. Albeit understandable, there is going to be some undue pressure on travellers and caravan park operators.
* Potential road safety issue, as people attempt to get home, as quickly as possible. There is a possibility that travellers will drive longer than they need to. The option to stay overnight in parks and campgrounds has disappeared in certain states.
* Possible forced eviction of long term residents of caravan parks. They are closing due to the policies of their respective states to shut.
* Unnecessary forced option of people to push through their normal times of travel in an attempt to get home. Responsible driving periods and pull over, rest and refresh in accommodation options are now no longer available.
The ever-popular Easter camping holidays will no longer be held in Caravan Parks and Campgrounds this year. The holiday period will now be spent at home. However, it is the people that are on the road full time or people that rely on Caravan Park accommodation that is going to be adversely affected by these draconian measures. The Caravan Park Association of Australia is working closely with the Australian Government in an attempt to treat each states caravan parks the same as hotels and motels. The ability to provide roofed accommodation (with onsite cabins etc) and provide self-contained amenities for caravans and RVs.
As more information comes to hand, we will ensure to pass this on to you all. This is to update and provide awareness to the continual conflicting information.
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