REDLANDS is on the road to becoming a stop-over point for grey nomads.
The city has tentatively earmarked sites in Cleveland and Capalaba for caravan tourists to stop over night, so they can go shopping, refuel, and, importantly, empty their toilet holding tanks.
John Fredericks Park at Capalaba and William Street Marine Facility at Cleveland will go on the "Motorhome Map" with Redland council aiming to have both set up before Christmas.
Self-drive motor homes are a booming tourism industry and more than 500,000 Australians own a campervan or caravan.
Redland council has struggled to keep up with demand despite plans unveiled in 2010 for "dump" sites, where the vans could empty toilets into council sewers.
Mayor Karen Williams said council was working closely with the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia.
“This project is great news for tourists as well as the Redlands tourism industry with it likely to result in an increase in tourism to the city,” Cr Williams said.
Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Queensland representative Richard Mainey said Redland was allocated the two "dump" sites which will be open to all RV self-contained vehicles.
Mr Mainey, who was speaking at an RV conference in Toowoomba on Thursday, said Redland was still going through due processes before the "dump" sites were ready to open.
He expected the "dump" units, for waste water, to be installed before the end of the year.
The units, currently stored at the council depot, will be built into the ground and will include a "wash-down" hose and a potable water tap so travellers can refill water tanks.
"We commended good discussions with Redlands in February but council has to do due diligence with water people and go to the community to make sure there are not too many objections and they have to be sited well," Mr Mainey said.
Redland councillor Wendy Boglay said she was pleased that years of work was finally paying off and the city would be on the Motorhome Map.
"A necessity, of course, are 'dump sites' and they have now been chosen based on best locations close to the highway to encourage travellers to turn off and come into Redlands and others strategically situated throughout the city," she said.
"Different areas require different facilities for travellers and the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australia advises councils on what suits their area.
"The economic benefits of being an RV Friendly Town will be enormous as this is a tourist industry that is growing."
