One of the things that I notice, actually you can’t miss it, is the number of caravans travelling along the Princes Highway and into our South Coast towns and villages.

Yes, it’s fair to say that “caravanning holidays and trips” are all the rage. Of course, they have always been popular. Lower cost family holidays that kids and parents remember forever.

Retirees getting out and about and relaxing in our beautiful area. And the lessons from COVID, made the caravanning dream even more of a reality. As people escaped and remembered what was important. Time with loved ones and friends, exploring.

There are so many economic benefits from tourism in our region. The tourism sector is made up of over ninety percent small businesses. That’s businesses with less than 20 employees. And on the South Coast tourism brings massive economic benefits for our whole community.

Deputy Speaker, I’m proud to be part of a government that recognises the importance of supporting these businesses. And that’s why I’m thrilled with the Albanese Government’s Caravan Parks Grants Program, and I’m pleased to move this motion today. The Caravan Park Grants Program is funding $10 million across 111 projects throughout the country.

I know that caravan parks are an essential part of our tourism offering on the South Coast, and I’m proud to be supporting them.

And I’m pleased that through the Caravan Parks Grants Program we’ve provided over $300,000 to support and enhance four local caravan parks across the South Coast, with infrastructure upgrades.

I want to ensure that people can continue to travel and enjoy our beautiful region, supporting our local communities along the way. Because I know that the small businesses which are supported by tourism are the lifeblood of our local economies.

They provide employment opportunities and attract visitors who contribute to the growth and stability of our communities. Caravan Parks help facilitate this.

They’re great for families, budget-conscious travellers, and the "grey nomads". But really, they’re popular with everyone, both domestic and international travellers who want to escape the bustling cities and explore our beautiful region, flock to caravan parks.

Caravan parks provide a place for visitors to stay and enjoy themselves and play a pivotal role in bolstering regional economies. That’s why we’re supporting them.

On the South Coast I was happy to award grants of.

$100,000 to BIG4 Mourya Heads East’s Dolphin Beach Holiday Park, to help them finalise their site layout and cabin layout. This new layout will be used to provide accessible accommodation for people who are less mobile, or living with a disability.

$26,000 to BIG4 Batemans Bay East Riverside Holiday Park to help them to expand their operation and improve the visitor experience.

$93,000 for Alamein Caravan Park in Sussex Inlet. Alamein Caravan park will use this money to install a new recreational paddle-craft boat ramp, to install new and stronger concrete slabs for caravans and to construct mixed electrical and solar lighting and signage throughout the park.

$100,000 for Grady’s Riverside Retreat. Grady’s Riverside retreat will use this funding to renovate a playground, including purchasing a new giant chess board, jumping pillow, putt-putt golf course and a new basketball ring. They’ll also be improving the kitchen facilities and adding four additional powered sites.

Deputy Speaker, the Caravan Park Grants Program is already having huge positive impacts in our communities.

This is an investment in the future.

Strengthening our regional economies, and ensuring that the great Aussie road trip remains an enduring tradition.

The Caravan Park Grants Program is just one part of our $48 million package of support for the tourism and travel sector as it recovers from the pandemic.

These grants are already helping to attract and upskill workers, provide quality tourism products, and deliver infrastructure upgrades.

I’m committed to supporting small business and the tourism sector.

And we look forward to hearing about, and seeing the lasting benefits of these improvements to our local caravan parks for years to come.

I want to conclude Deputy Speaker, by sending a big shout-out to all our Caravan Park operators and staff across the NSW South Coast. Despite many difficult years of bushfires, floods, storms, COVID and landslips, our Caravan Parks have been there supporting people, helping people to relax, and enjoy our most beautiful environment, towns and villages and all the NSW South Coast has to offer.