Town ready for caravan rally

More than 800 caravans and motorhomes will start arriving in Albany tomorrow for the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia's 30th National Rally.

It will be the first time the city has hosted the event, with members travelling thousands of kilometres across the country to take part from this Saturday to next Sunday, November 1.

First-time CMCA ralliers are expected to arrive tomorrow from 9.30am to noon, while regular participants will arrive on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday from 7.30am.

Albany rally manager Vince Calleja said the CMCA rally was expected to inject more than $2 million into the local economy.

"The economic benefits are very substantial, just to have the rally here," he said.

"The big bonus for Albany is the fact that this will be a destination that they will return to.

"Some people have never been to Albany before and the bush telegraph works very strongly."

City of Albany manager of tourism development and services Matt Bird said there were long term benefits in marketing and attracting major events like the CMCA rally to the Albany.

"The City of Albany has been proactive in attending industry expos and consumer trade shows and will continue to focus on attracting more interest in Albany as a holiday and event destination," he said.

To deal with the large influx of motorhomes, the City of Albany will initiate a traffic management plan which will direct rally vehicles from Albany Highway through Menang Drive across to Chester Pass Road before they head down North Road, where the left lane is planned to be dedicated to motorhome traffic until the Lockyer Avenue turnoff.

Lockyer Avenue will be closed to local traffic from North Road to the first gate at Centennial Park.

Though the rally is for members only, there will be opportunities for motorhome and caravanning enthusiasts to talk to members at the public open day next Saturday, October 31, from 9am-3pm.