Page 1131 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
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greatest return to the ACT economy. However, it should be noted that Canberra does have an identified strength in drive tourism, with two-thirds of domestic overnight visitors using self-drive vehicles to access the destination.
Therefore, in line with the tourism 2020 strategy and its desired outcomes, the ACT government is working on practical solutions to better support the RV sector, including better promotion of existing facilities, ongoing review of existing facilities to inform future infrastructure investment, and investigating options to leverage the strong relationship between the ACT government and the Canberra Region Joint Organisation to support a whole-of-tourism-region approach.
In specifically responding to the needs of the RV market, I can report back as follows. First, I deal with the provision of appropriate RV parking close to town centres, and fresh produce shopping. The 2016 relocation of the Canberra and region visitors centre to Regatta Point now sees this outstanding tourist information facility situated within walking distance, as in less than one kilometre, to the CBD and major shopping and dining precincts.
Coupled with easy walking access to Lake Burley Griffin and major national attractions, the Canberra visitor information centre provides all-day free parking for RV owners, along with one hour free parking for other vehicles. This was specifically negotiated by the ACT government as part of lease conditions with the National Capital Authority. The Canberra and region visitors centre also serves as a designated pick-up and drop-off point for the recently introduced culture loop shuttle bus, a free service which transports passengers on a convenient loop to the Canberra Centre and to our city’s cultural attractions and places of interest.
The next item was the provision of short-term, low cost overnight parking for RVs. While no Australian capital city or other major city location is accredited as RV friendly, it should be noted that Canberra already provides a strong range of facilities for the RV market. Six properties currently offer short-term overnight parking for RVs, with a further location at Canberra Park, adjacent to Exhibition Park in Canberra, due to come on line in the middle of this year.
Exhibition Park in Canberra also provides extensive overnight parking availability for RVs, while Canberra Park is in its final stages of developing approximately 80 premium powered sites, including drive-through sites for larger vehicles. Both of these properties are well positioned to facilitate access to Canberra’s light rail service, which will provide easy connectivity to the CBD as well as to dining and shopping precincts located along the light rail corridor.
The other available locations are also suitably equipped to meet the needs of the RV market, with a combined 230 sites, powered and unpowered, on offer. Additionally, there are three RV sites in the region which have a pet-friendly policy: Exhibition Park, Eaglehawk Holiday Park and Capital Country Holiday Village.
I turn to access to potable water at appropriate locations. Potable water is available at the Canberra and region visitors centre and at each of the overnight parking accommodation options I have just mentioned, again, with free all-day parking for
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