Caravan Research Project looking at defects in caravan manufacture
Have you ever encountered a manufacture defect in your caravan that rendered it unsafe to tow. Would you like the opportunity to have your say about the experience to have the defects corrected. If so, then read on
Hi 'Vanners
The Australian National University, ANU College of Law is conducting research to identify whether the Australian consumer law and the Australian vehicle standards are ineffective in ensuring that only caravans that are fit for purpose are used on Australian roads.
The project is reviewing relevant law applicable to the design and sale of caravans including the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (Cth), the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019 (Cth) and Vehicle Standards Bulletin VSB1 Building Small Trailers National Code of Practice. Other relevant law will be the Australian Consumer Law (or ACL). The ACL is set out in Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
New Member Benefit - Special
Situated just a few kilometres from Portland, Victoria, Henty Bay Beachfront Holiday Park are offering our ACC Members a winter special of stay 3 pay for 2 throughout their accommodation and powered sites from now till the end of August.
Right on the beach and perfect to have a relaxing stay at their pet friendly holiday park plus it is Portland’s peak whale watching season. This offer is also available pre & post for our National Muster at Warrnambool in October exclusive to our ACC members. Henty Bay is generously providing a powered caravan site voucher for the National Muster raffle.
Contacts: Ph 03 5523 3761 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. website: www.hentybay.com.au
City moves towards ‘RV friendly’ status
The newly developed recreational vehicle (RV) parking area based at Frew Park on Penola Road is ready for use after months of construction following demolition of the former St John Ambulance building.
Council demolished the former St John Ambulance building in 2016 after it had reached the end of its useful life. The site has now been transformed into a parking area and dump point for long vehicles, trailers, motor homes and caravans to allow easy access to the city centre.
“Council was approached by a number of individuals and organisations seeking RV and caravan parking close to the CBD,” City of Mount Gambier Manager Engineering Design & Contracts Daryl Morgan said.
“A concept plan was developed, and we worked closely with groups such as the Australian Caravan Club to refine the plans for the RV park and dump point.”
The $140,000 project formed part of Council’s 2018/2019 infrastructure budget and included the installation of a grey and black water dump point and connection to sewer, solar lighting, picnic benches, drinking water fountain, bitumen works and landscaping.
The location is an ideal site given its close proximity to the visitor centre and visibility from major roads, but most importantly it’s only a five minute walk to the city centre.
- City of Mount Gambier Manager Engineering Design & Contracts Daryl Morgan
“Frew Park also provides the perfect area for families or pets to have a run around after being cooped up in the car travelling.”
The Australian Caravan Club (ACC) commended Council on the initiative hailing the project as a step towards making Mount Gambier an RV friendly city.
“There are tens of thousands of RV travellers on the road at any one time throughout Australia and it has been well documented that these travellers spend at least $100 per day on average,” ACC Limestone Coasters President Paul Smith said.
“These dollars can only be spent in places that provide suitable parking and facilities.”
There are currently no time limits in place for vehicle parking during the day, however under Council’s by-laws overnight camping is prohibited.
Council has included a number of environmentally sustainable initiatives throughout the project such as solar lighting and park benches constructed from recycled plastic.
Media contact: City of Mount Gambier Communications Officer Ashlea Watson on (08) 8721 2577 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
City of Mount Gambier Manager Engineering Design & Contracts Daryl Morgan stands beside the dump point installed at the site allowing users to dispose grey and black water from recreational vehicles free of charge.
ACC establishes 55th branch – Coffs Coasters – Coffs Harbour, NSW
The Australian Caravan Club (ACC) is pleased to announce the formation of a new branch in the Coffs Harbour region. This follows a successful membership drive undertaken by ACC New South Wales State Membership representative Lorraine Theodoros and some ACC members who had moved to the area who had left their old branches behind and knew the friendships they could form by forming a local branch.
As well as servicing the township of Coffs Harbour, the Club’s 55th branch, the ACC Coffs Coasters, will look to attracting new members residing along the north coast from Ballina to Port Macquarie. The new members haven’t wasted any time and selected Red Rock Caravan Park, for their first muster which was held on the 28th – 30th May 2019.
An information session was held at Moonee Beach on the 14th May. This was widely advertised on the Club’s Facebook page and attracted considerable interest. “We had great support from ACC branch members and other RVers living in the district and by the end of the night we had 2 new ACC members signed up and 11 existing ACC members. In total the new branch will kick off with 13 members” said Graham Christie, ACC Director, Membership Support,
“Congratulations to all those who have worked to get the branch established, I know their efforts will be rewarded in seeing their new branch grow. I also congratulate the members of our new ACC Coffs Coasters and its inaugural executive of Alan Sandblom (President) and Chris Lawton (Secretary). Just looking at the numbers who committed to establishing the new branch its obvious there is considerable interest from RVers in the Coffs Harbour area and North Coast generally and I look forward to watching the branch grow,” Mr Christie said.
Inaugural Branch Secretary Chris Lawton indicated that the new membership has already been making suggestions for future musters and these will be discussed at the Red Rock Caravan Park muster. When conveying the good news about establishment of the new branch, Chris Lawton said “The members can’t wait to get to their first muster and enjoy our RVs together adopting the ACC focus of all about fun, friendship and adventure within the recreational vehicle community”.
We invite RVers living in the Coffs Harbour township and NSW North Coast region wishing to make enquiries about joining the Coffs Coasters to contact the ACC on 1800 734 493 or email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ACC members breaking records at home and abroad
Eleven members of the ACC have made a long journey to the UK to attend the Caravan & Motorhome Club UK 2019 National Rally this week.
The rally has attracted over 2,500 RVs with ACC members recognised as having travelled the furtherest distance to the event.
Meanwhile back in Australia, several members of our Club made the journey to Barcaldine to participate in attempts by the Australian Motorhoming Lions Club to break Guinness world records last weekend.
While it appears records for the longest line of LED lights and the largest parade of RVs to travel in convoy were broken by the 930 RVs in attendance, it could be 3 months before official confirmation.