A small town on the eastern edge of the New South Wales Blue Mountains is to trial a new camping area in a bid to attract more grey nomads to the region … and more campsites could follow.
Wollondilly Council has given the green light to the allocation of $35,000 for the creation of a Recreational Vehicle Friendly Site at the Warragamba Recreation Reserve, opposite the Boomerang shelter.
Councillor Matt Gould told the Wollondilly Advertiser that the pilot program would run for 12 months, and would be a major boost for the shire’s tourism.
“There are a lot of grey nomads who come to the shire but they don’t have anywhere to stay,” he said. “There is an existing market out there that we have not tapped into yet, and this will boost the economic development of the village and the local business owners are excited.”
Cr Gould told the Wollondilly Advertiser he was seeking confirmation of when construction work would start at the site.
“There is not a huge lot of infrastructure work that needs to occur because most of it already exists such as a dump point,” he said. “A pin-accessed automated boom gate and signage will need to be installed and the lines will need to be re-marked.”
The newspaper reports that the site will have easy access and manoeuvrability for motorhomes, caravans and campervans, parking, natural shade, barbecue and water facilities and it is close to shops, Warragamba Dam, a swimming pool and an off-leash dog area.
Stays will be limited to 48 hours and a maximum of eight RVs will be allowed at one time.
The pilot period will test how many people come and at what time of the year they come, and will help planning for the potential future roll-out of these sites at different towns around the shire.
Councillor Ray Law hopes that the next site will be built at Bargo.
“Bargo is one of the main entrances to the shire and if caravanners are coming from north or south they get off the freeway, come into Bargo, look for a spot to stay overnight and find there isn’t anywhere to park legally,” Cr Law told the Advertiser. “Bargo is a good port of call for people coming from or going to Sydney and hopefully they will stay in the town.”
Congratulations Ray, a brilliant initiative move for the area. I have been a grey nomad for 3 years and have first hand experience of arriving in a town finding no facility for the travellers. We just keep on driving to next town where we will be ‘welcomed’, so that’s when we buy fuel, food, a few refreshments and spend time looking around the area. It only takes a few travelers to spread the word and ‘they will come’. I used to own a business in Bargo many years ago, and this is a must for the growth.
Congratulations. Penrith offers no such facilities so I am sure many travellers coming to Penrith would be prepared to travel to Warragamba to make use of your facilities.