By NOEL MURPHY
MOVES to welcome campervans and RVs to Winchelsea could mark a new tourism sector for the Surf Coast.
Tourism chiefs have long rejected grey nomads and other so-called free campers but the Growing Winchelsea lobby argues RV owners spend an average $386 a week that local businesses should be able to harness.
A petition tabled with Surf Coast Shire council this week called for Winchelsea to be formally declared an “RV Friendly Town”.
“We have every amenity in place for this status and look forward to welcoming our first RV overnighters to the banks of the beautiful Barwon River,” said Growing Winchelsea president Stuart Fountain.
The group said RV owners had consistently made a “moderate but important contribution to the town’s economy” until Surf Coast mounted a camping bylaws crackdown on RV visitors.
Tourism bosses such as Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine boss Roger Grant have consistently argued campervans have exploited beaches and bush tracks to the detriment of the local accommodation industry.
Growing Winchelsea told Surf Coast the economic benefits of becoming an RV Friendly Town were significant.
“Camping is the fastest growing segment of the Australian domestic tourism market, valued at over $5.4 billion, and over the past 10 years more than 200,000 RVs have been sold in Australia.”
Mr Fountain told the Independent the TV Friendly Town bid was a “positive” development that had been 10 months in the making.
“The main issue for Surf Coast has been banning sleeping in cars and public spaces, that’s really the only issue we’ve had.
“We’ve tried to address that and things are looking fairly positive.”
The Campervan Motorhome Club of Australia has approved RV Friendly Town status.
Towns are required to provide appropriate parking, access to a general shopping area, short-term parking, access to potable water and a free dumping point.
