By promoting a partnership between recreational vehicle (RV) travellers and small towns, CMCA said it hopes to encourage the expansion of tourism related infrastructure and services, and also boost the economy of those small towns providing RV tourist specific amenities. 

CMCA said the advantage of Wingham becoming an RV Friendly Town is that the business community will benefit from the spending of the mobile travellers. 

The value of road based tourism in Australia is estimated to be $7 billion per annum.

The idea to apply for Wingham to become an RV Friendly Town was initially put forward by Ron Sky (an experienced caravan traveller) at a Wingham Advancement Group (WAG) meeting about five years ago.

At the time there were a number of factors that prevented WAG from progressing with the project.

In order to qualify for the title, towns must successfully meet the needs of RV travellers and satisfy stringent criteria including:

At that time – and up until this year – there wasn’t a CMCA approved ‘dump point’ in Wingham.

For the past two years WAG had been working with MidCoast Water to investigate possible ‘Dump Points’ around Wingham.

Wingham Riverside Reserve, near the toilets in Central Park, on East Combined Street near the entrance to the sewerage works and at Wingham Industrial and Sports Complex were all identified as possible sites. 

Unfortunately they all had technical problems.

However under the newly elected Wingham Showground Trust, a new CMCA subsidised ‘dump point’ was installed early this year at the showgrounds.

“Suddenly it was all possible provided Greater Taree City Council came on board,” WAG president, Allen Valentine said.

“Chocolate frogs all round to the Trust for the initiative of getting a CMCA dump point,” he added.

With the end in sight WAG got to work.

In June WAG approached Wingham Chamber of Commerce and Wingham Rotary Club to seek their support for the project and they agreed. 

Manning Valley Historical Society president, Barbara Waters agreed to be the contact at the museum to satisfy the need for a ‘local’ Visitors Information Centre.

In July Ron and Leonna Sky and Allen were able to complete the last part of the application by compiling information on Wingham’s business facilities.

Allen said he then liaised with Greater Taree City Council to submit the application which was approved by council’s acting general manager Ron Posselt.

“All that remains now is for everyone in the community to make the RV travellers, and indeed all our visitors and tourists, very welcome,” Allen said.

“After all, we are “The Friendly Town”!

For a current list of RV Friendly Towns around the country, visit the CMCA website www.cmca.net.au.