Every so often Mother Nature gives some of favourite grey nomad playgrounds such a thorough working over that it is hard to imagine they will ever be fit for visitors ever again.
Floods, fire, and cyclones are just some of the threats which have previously wreaked havoc in some of this country’s most beautiful country. While the incidents make headlines at the time, they slowly slip out of the wider public’s consciousness … leaving behind but those who live there to quietly get on with the job of clearing, fixing, renovating and rejuvenating,
In February last year, Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia ripped through central Queensland leaving a trail of destruction in its wake as it passed just to the west of Yeppoon and then crossed Rockhampton.
Byfield National Park and nearby state forests were in the direct path of the Category 5 cyclone and the damage was severe and widespread. Whole areas of pine plantation bordering the park were flattened, toilet facilities crushed, picnic tables smashed, and tracks blocked.
Within days, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers, and the Australian Defence Force were in action clearing roads and the campgrounds.
Right from the start, the message was defiant and clear.
“Come back to Byfield,” said National Parks Minister, Dr Steven Miles, at the time. “The clean-up and repairs will take months but we’re urging people to get out to Byfield … I’m sure the Byfield community will appreciate seeing visitors again to get business going.”
Little more than a year later, many of the once devastated campgrounds are back … bigger and better than ever.
The State Government’s $3 million redevelopment investment for recreational facilities at Byfield parks and forests has included work at Ocean Beach camping, and upgrades at campsites at Upper Stony Creek and Waterpark Creek, and the Stockyard Point Headland.
Now, it has been announced that the popular Red Rock camping area just north of Yeppoon is to be given a $350,000 facelift. It will soon boast new toilets and will see improvements to the car parking, camping and picnic facilities.
“Most of the existing facilities at Red Rock were built in the 1980s and are at the end of their useful life, so it’s time for them to be replaced,” the Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga, told the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. “Along with camping facilities, the work will include construction of a park information area for visitors.”
The upgrade work at Red Rock will start in September with a proposed finish date of next May.
