Recently the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome industries has again experienced rapid growth, with new caravan registrations increasing to an average rate of 14% a year, a trend that is expected to continue in the near future.

It is significant to note that Victoria is estimated to represent 80% of caravan manufacturing nationally.*
* Source: Caravan Industry Association (CIA), Caravan Industry Overview, 2003

Current caravan registrations are around 80,000 per year.

The above is just part of a submission that was presented to the Benalla Rural City to try and encourage them to make available in the city caravan parking spots. It fell on deaf ears!

A perfect example (and one again that was presented) of a town catering for the caravan population is Childers in Queensland. The town has a population of about 2000 people but their council has seen fit to allocate an exceptionally large 'tourist parking area'. This area consists of 12 drive through parking bays, six bays for 'combi-vans' and the like plus six parking spots for buses. There is also a 'dump point' for caravans. All in all a wonderful spot for tourists to park and it is within a short walk to toilets, main shopping center and tourist information center. It is also very well sign posted, both on the highway and the side street.

Benalla has about 10 times the population, but one twelth the amount of 'tourist parking spaces'.

No place for caravans

If you tow a caravan take note that in Benalla, Victoria the Benalla Council has seen fit to only supply two long vehicle (caravan) parking spaces in the whole of the city. These two spaces are very frequently taken up by inconsiderate owners of passenger vehicles. The Benalla Council By-Laws Officer consonantly turns a blind eye to these transgressions thus denying those with caravans the ability to park in recognized parking spaces.
These two long vehicle parking spaces were supposed to be just for cars towing caravans. These two spots took more than ten years to obtain from the council, they have been placed in a busy car park. Not only is is quiet difficult to get into these spots, but if you do, you are then faced with at least a 300 plus meter walk to the Tourist Information building.
The Rural City of Benalla has little or no concerns for caravaners, and in fact they really do not want tourists at all, as they believe they 'are not a tourist destination'.
I have been towing caravans for more than 25 years and most towns around Australia welcome with open arms caravaners and tourists, not so Benalla.
Over the past 5 years I have been trying to talk the council into joining up the two major rail trail / bike paths in adjoining towns with one in the Rural City of Benalla, but guess what, they are not in the least interested.
So in closing for now, be warned, it is extremely difficult to park your van in Benalla and if you dare bring a bike to ride, forget it!