The New South Wales town of Orange is looking to turn a 16-hectare site former trotting track property into a major new caravan park.
Mayor Reg Kidd the property presented an opportunity to transform the gateway of Orange and give visitors much-needed options, citing a “need for a higher standard of tourist and caravan park to cover a gap in the current accommodation offering”.
However, grey nomads – who have previously criticised what they see as a non-welcoming attitude in Orange – may feel the park is not being developed with them in mind.
The council wants a facility to include, at least, a 200-bed holiday park … with jumping pillows and a skate park also on the wish list.
“Council is open to suggestions but we’re leaning towards a tourist site with cabins, large and medium RVs, caravan sites, ensuite sites, amenities, pool, jumping pillow and a skate park, for example,” said Cr Kidd. “Affiliation with nationally-recognised tourist parks or significant experience in the sector will also be a consideration.”
The mayor said the council was looking for a star rating of four or above for the accommodation, and it has called for Expressions of Interest to develop the site.
Orange has previously come under fire from some grey nomads for not doing enough to cater to the needs of budget-minded travellers. While the town does have a free camp inside the showgrounds for fully self-contained caravans and RVs, it is only available for 24-hour stays. The council insists it has to balance the need to provide van sites against the reality of going into competition with local van parks
Recent Destination NSW data shows there has been a 24.9% increase in visitors to the region, and the council says this proves there is a need for the type of accommodation being proposed.
They will have to build more than a better class of caravan park to get me to go back to Orange.Yes the unwelcoming attitude, the disgusting park that we were forced to stay in for the night and a feed of chinese that nearly made us throw up does it for us. Another too little too late example. Stevo.
How did they force you to stay there.
24 Hour stays are rubbish. They need to be at least 36 hours. Pull in in the afternoon. Stay the night. Visit the town and its must sees the next day, stay that night and then leave the next morning. If there is more to see, pull up stumps and move into a van park. Even Kalgoorlie has a 48 hour free camp.
the kind of park i wont use
Most grey nomads are on a budget. If the town wants the tourist dollars it needs to cater for the majority of travellers and be affordable. It would make sense to encourage people to stay for at least a few days.
One would think if a CP as described in the article is built it will be like other towns, any free or low cost camping will be closed.
My suggestion would be do not call it a caravan park. Do not advertise it as a caravan park. This is a holiday park with facilities for young adults and children. This way, grey nomads won’t wast their time diverting to or looking for, on google maps, a caravan park that is not a caravan park.
Some nomads want everything for nothing, including where to stay. I have been travelling for years and free camping at a number of places all over Oz. Some town and caravan parks are hardly making ends meet with the drought, you don’t here them complaining its only the Nomads who have never felt hardship, so why don’t you stay at home.
Hey Dick, you are one for that comment.
Charge less and stay longer, that will help places in need. !!!
Exactly what we have stayed away from
We have stayed at orange show grounds, excellent slabs good amenties and 28.00 per night and we are grey tourists why complain?..?
Gray nomads don’t need gumping castles or skate parks thats why a lot of these parks cost a lot to stay.