Caravan permit confusion in the City of Casey is causing angst says John Westbury.

Good caravanning mate George Hannabury who lives in an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne returned home from a couple of weeks away in his caravan where he enjoyed some fishing, couple of happy hours, a good book and a relaxing time.

After unpacking and cleaning his van he checked the mail that arrived and it was a short time after that he called me, and I must say I cannot repeat the expletives.

A PERMIT TO CAMP IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

“Mate, the City of Casey council has sent me a letter telling me that I have to apply for a permit and pay them $420 a year for the privilege of parking my caravan in the backyard. What flamin’ idiot came up with that one?”

Yes, I have heavily edited the expletives in his question!

Firstly I thought it may have been one of the many scams that are out there, but no, it was not. Within a matter of days the City of Casey issued the following media statement.

CITY OF CASEY SAYS TWO WEEKS EXEMPT

“City of Casey Manager for Safer Communities Caroline Bell advises that the City of Casey would like to apologise for any confusion caused about when a permit is needed by residents to keep a caravan on their property.

“Caravans, motorhomes, trailers and boats are exempt from requiring a permit unless a resident is residing in these for longer than 14 days. This change came into effect with the new Local Law on 1 January 2018 following community consultation, which resulted in the new exemption,” she said.

JOHN WESTBURY ON THE CASE

I contacted the City of Casey, and, after some 20-minutes on hold, was advised to send written questions and an answer would be given in three days. The questions included why, especially if a van was being used to house a relative who needed accommodation, and why were motorhomes included as they are technically a motor vehicle.

I also asked what happens if a person lives in an RV for 13-days, lives inside for one and then returns to the van for another 13-days. There was no response to either the motor home or the 13 days question.

PERMIT FEES WAIVED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS

Caroline Bell from the City of Casey, instead, issued the following statement.

“Following consultation with our community, the City of Casey introduced a new local law on 1 January 2018, which exempted caravans, motorhomes, trailers and boats from requiring a permit, unless a person is residing in these for longer than 14 days. 

“Most Councils have adopted a similar law, and this is in place to protect the general amenity of the community and limit noise and other nuisances. 

“A permit is required for heavy or long vehicles, including one greater than 7.5 metres in length or has a Gross Vehicle Mass of 4.5 tonnes or more.

“In the case where a person needs to reside in a caravan or other large vehicle due to extenuating services, including an emergency situation, Council will look at each case on its merit, and have issued permits in the past at no fee for short-term emergency accommodation, while also offering other support services,” she wrote. 

THE CIAV RESPONDS

We asked Rob Lucas, Chief Executive Officer of the Caravan Industry Association Victoria his thoughts on the issue.

“We are surprised to learn of the ban on people using their own caravans on their own properties in the City of Casey. It is an Australian tradition to be able to use caravans for visiting family or to help out a friend or relative who is in need of some form of accommodation in their hour of need.”

“It is hard to imagine there is a major crisis of people living full-time in caravans in the City of Casey, it seems the council is using a sledge hammer to break open a peanut,” said Rob Lucas, CEO CIAV.

In closing, I wonder if the council folk making these decisions are RV owners or campers? I think perhaps not!