High rego fees not only issue affecting caravanners in New South Wales
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.
