On July 26, council adopted the Mackay Region Recreational Vehicle Strategy, and I am unapologetic in how exciting this was for me personally.
In 2016, I and other councillors started advocating for this strategy based on feedback from people in our community who travel throughout Australia in their own RVs. We received clear messages that people who own RVs want different camping options in the locations they travel to, and that we, as a region, needed to ensure that travellers didn’t keep bypassing us on their way to other destinations.
In October 2022, Council engaged Otium Planning Group to assist in the preparation of the Mackay Region RV Strategy. Some of the objectives of the strategy were to have actions that would attract a greater share of the RV market, provide economic benefit to the region and to have an action plan that clarifies council’s role. There was significant desktop research conducted as well as consultation sessions so all relevant stakeholders could be heard before releasing the draft strategy document for public consultation.
The caravan and camping market was already growing before Covid-19 and since 2019 has been expanding rapidly with high demand for caravans and RVs. Caravans are getting longer and are increasingly self-contained. Some key statistics from the strategy is that total registrations of RVs in 2022 was 772,598, that Queensland continues to have the most RV registrations and the 30-to-54-year market makes up 47 per cent of all trips, followed by the 55+ market with 29 per cent.
Mackay
Part of the message from council in the strategy is that it represents council’s vision to transform the Mackay region into a chosen destination for RV adventurers, with the goal to facilitate an array of RV stay options and strategic promotion of our key destinations, all aimed at capturing an even larger portion of the RV market.
With the first stage of the mountain bike park already underway, I believe the strategy will be an important step in the success of this unique adventure tourism offering and I can’t wait to welcome many more travellers and RVs to our region.
Cr Fran Mann
Mackay Regional Council
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
.jpg)
