Melbourne caravan builders shut factories

Caravan Industry Victoria has told its manufacturer members that all RV production facilities in the Melbourne metropolitan region will have to close for six weeks from August 6, under strict new Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions.

CIV CEO Rob Lucas said the compulsory factory closures will have a big impact on the local RV manufacturing industry, which in Melbourne alone employs thousands of workers and accounts for around 90 per cent of locally-manufactured caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers.

Lucas said the CIV had submitted a template COVIDSafe Plan to the Victorian Government in the hope that RV manufacturers could continue to operate with 'skeleton staff' under the strict Stage 4 restrictions.

"W are still making representations to the Victorian Government for an exemption to have a reduced number of employees (at caravan factories) including the possibility of a skeleton staff," he said.

"We haven't had a response back yet, and we're unlikely to receive that today... However, we've told our members they should plan to be shut."

Lucas also confirmed that Melbourne-based RV dealers will have to shut showrooms but can keep service departments open to do some servicing and repair work, under government directions.

The industry boss estimated up to 4000 factory workers from more than 50 Melbourne-based caravan manufacturers could be affected during the latest lockdown.

"The government has made a hard decision around the number of (COVID-19) positive cases and people dying (in Melbourne), so we have to take it seriously. If we have to close (the factories) due an instruction from Government, we have to close," he said.

Some of the bigger Melbourne-based caravan manufacturers, including Jayco, Nova, New Age and Crusader, were quick to put out online statements about how the shutdown will affect customers.

Jayco said it will close its Dandenong, Victoria production facilities and offices, where until recently around 1000 employees worked, for the six-week period. However, its service and spare parts departments will continue to "operate with reduced staffing levels in line with government protocol.

"Additional measures will be put in place post restrictions so we can fulfill our customer orders and get people back out enjoying caravanning and their next great escape as quickly as possible," the 45-year-old RV manufacturer said.

Crusader said although all caravan production will cease at its Epping, Victoria factory, it plans to "quickly ramp back up again into full scale production after the lockdown period".

"This unfortunately means there is likely to be delays in fulfilling new caravan orders currently in the system," the popular Melbourne manufacturer said.

Also based in Epping, New Age thanked customers for their patience after announcing it would temporarily stand down its "skeleton-crews in our manufacturing facility".

"If you have a caravan that is currently being manufactured or was due to start, there will be a delay due to the Stage 4 lockdown," the big-selling caravan manufacturer said.

"Unfortunately this is unavoidable and every other Victorian caravan manufacturer is in the same position. Please contact your local dealership for an update on your caravan and they will be able to assist you."

The six-week shutdown of Melbourne-based factories will add to existing backlogs and supply issues, as well as other serious disruptions to the local RV industry caused by COVID-19 since early-2020.

Based on the most recent annual RV production figures, Melbourne-based manufacturers account for as many as 2000 or more, locally-built RVs over a typical six-week production period.

RV suppliers as well as manufacturers are also being affected, including Queensland's Cruisemaster which recently halted retail sales of its popular DO-35 coupling in order to "assist manufacturers in their recovery efforts".

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