The effects of the floods that hit central Victoria some 18 months ago are still being felt by locals and visitors alike. Temporary facilities will be in place again this summer at the Bridgewater Caravan Park, west of Bendigo, which was washed away by the January 2011 flood on the Loddon River.
It had been hoped the facility would reopen fully this summer but the Loddon Shire now says it does not expect to finish the site’s redevelopment until next year. The shire’s chief executive, John McLinden, says he hopes the temporary camping facilities will be better than last season.
“It was actually quite unsatisfactory the arrangements last year and we know that most caravan site holders and campers were quite displeased with how it worked,” he told the ABC. “So, we’re going to look at how it can improve the offering and the comfort level that we are able to provide people this year … we’re just not sure what we’re going to be able to do at this point.”
Mr McLinden said when the caravan park did fully re-open it would provide a massive boost to the tourism sector in Bridgewater, Inglewood, and Bendigo itself. Did you stay at the Bridgewater van park last year? Will you do so this year? Do you make a point of visiting communities struggling after natural disasters, or do you give them a wide berth until they have fully recovered? Email us here with your views on this story.
