Caravanning News

As we always say, it's the people in the ACC that make it the great Club that it is. We mentioned yesterday we had members travelling to our national muster in Denmark Western Australia via 'the long way round'.

While stopping at our ACC Farm Stay at Howard Springs near Darwin in the Northern Territory, Sunshine Nomads Brian and Linda, and Kim and Trevor, were delighted to be joined by Gold Coast Gadabouts Kathy and Vince.

Since it's the third time they have run into each other in the last few weeks on their journey to the West, we're guessing they enjoy the friendships and adventures that they share. Look out for them on the road too - they would be more than happy to say hello and have a chat. Great to see them displaying the ACC logos!

Our Club membership director Graham is the first Club director to head out on the road to make the journey to our national muster in October in Denmark, Western Australia.  Graham and his wife Kaye left their Queensland Sunshine Coast home today and will journey south-west through New South Wales to South Australia, then across the Nullarbor.  Keep an eye out for them on the road.  They would welcome you to come and say hello.

A recall notice has been issued on 11 Mazda BT-50s available for sale nationally on 30 April 2018.

The recall notice states that there is a ‘potential quality issue with welding of the lower immediate steering shaft…If the welding of the lower intermediate steering shaft fails due to the inappropriate welding, this may cause sudden, unexpected loss of steering and may pose a hazard to the vehicle occupants and other road users.’

To see if your vehicle is affected or for further information, go to https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/mazda-australia-pty-ltd-mazda-bt-50-4

A vehicle recall notice has issued for certain Ford Everest vehicles built from 16 March to 6 April 2018 and on certain Ford Ranger vehicles built from 18 March to 11 April 2018.

The recall notice states that ‘in certain affected vehicles, the intermediate steering shaft weld may not met required specifications, which may cause the steering column to detach from the steering gear.  This condition could result in a loss of steering, increasing the risk of accident or injury.’

To read more or to see if your vehicle is affected, go to 

https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/ford-motor-company-of-australia-limited-ford-everest-and-ranger

While welcoming the 40% reduction in private motor vehicle tax on caravans and camper-trailers announced by the New South Wales Government last weekend, there are other pressing issues affecting recreational vehicle owners (RVers) in New South Wales.

On Saturday, New South Wales State Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey announced a 40% reduction in motor vehicle tax for private caravan owners for caravans up to 4.5 tonnes which will come into effect on 1 November 2018.

Our ACC Chairman Craig said that the 40% reduction will be appreciated by families, pensioners and self-funded retirees.  “Our Club also acknowledges that New South Wales has some of the most generous registration provisions for pensioners than any State.  Anyone even on a part pension receives free registration for one vehicle each year.” 

“Our Club lobbied the New South Wales government back in 2014 pleading for a reduction in the high registration fees on caravans in that State,” Craig said.  “Our pleas fell on deaf ears at the time.”

“However, our Club questions what the New South Wales Government is doing to align the State with other States such as Victoria when it comes to setting registration fees on caravans and camper trailers.”

“Compared to other States, the New South Wales registration fee for private caravan owners is over-priced, placing an unfair burden on caravanners.” 

Craig said that the higher caravan registration fees was only one issue affecting RVers in New South Wales that requires attention.  

“The New South Wales Government needs to start doing something to improve not only the number of roadside rest areas, but the allocated space available in rest areas for RVs,” Craig said.

“We have truckies and RVers vying for space in rest areas.  Some of the angst that is arising between truckies and vanners at rest stops is the result of inadequate space and number of rest areas currently available for RVers along New South Wales highways.”

“While RVers acknowledge that truckies operate on a time schedule and must have regulatory rest stops, RVers too need fatigue management.”

“If the New South Wales Government is serious about helping caravanners, then they need to improve the availability and size of roadside rest areas to accommodate the travelling RVer for overnight stays and fatigue management,” Craig said.

The ACC has recently called for a summit of interested stakeholders in a major effort to resolve issues between truckies and vanners on the road and develop protocols under which both road-user groups can work.  

“All affected stakeholder groups need to collaborate together, be working off the same page and at the same time, be delivering the same message.  At the moment we are seeing several stakeholders including our own Club using individual resources, at times with slightly different messages, that are not reaching the full targeted audiences,” Craig said.