A much-vaunted RV stopover in the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Cooroy is failing … and some of those in the know say it is because it is restricted to self-contained vehicles only.
Since the facility opened two years ago, the Noosa News reports that the number of travellers stopping there has been far from impressive.
Small business owner and Cooroy Chamber of Commerce member, Doug Claydon, says it is nothing short of madness that the toilet facilities at the stopover are locked, effectively forcing grey nomads without toilets to pass on by.
Mr Claydon said that he, and former Noosa councillor Ray Kelly – both of whom are keen caravanners – told the council of the problem years earlier. He said the obvious solution was to open the toilets and make showers available by issuing visitors with keys or cards.
“We know what grey nomads spend … the ballpark figure is $1000 for a 1000kms – that’s fuel and food stocks and we are missing out on a large part of that,” he told the Noosa News. “I am just so frustrated. Both Ray and myself have had considerable experience of being grey nomads and enjoying stopovers, and it was plainly obvious it was going to fail … attendance is abysmal and it is failing.”
He said this was a case of ideal location, wrong approach.
Mr Claydon argued that there should be more attractive facilities like barbecues and better promotion like there is at successful stopovers across the shire boundary at Eumundi and Kenilworth.
“Nothing has happened – they don’t know what they’re doing,” he told the Noosa News. “If it was done properly there could be zero cost and in fact council could make some money out of it.”
Mr Claydon said it did not need a costly third party management arrangement and council should look after the stopover in-house.
He believes the four-night stay limit is fine as long as RV users are directed towards other Noosa stays like Pomona and the coast when their Cooroy time is up.
All the Talk about Grey Nomads dont need facilities because they are Self Contained.
This is evidence that that is not correct.
We travel snd stay mostly caravan Parks and still keep it to $1,000 per 1,000klm and have fully self contained caravan and proper inbuilt Grey Water Storage.
Most will spend bulk Shopping Woolworths Coles and Aldi.
Bit crazy toilets are locked???
Its very simple, make it to hard and we dont stop. You dont want our money
People travelling through need toilets, everyone in this world use them. I bet the councilors have to use a toilet at all hours of the day and night. It is not something that can be put on hold until their are toilets opened.
When some one craps in the bushes because the toilet is locked, one can bet that the council will do their best to close the camp site.
They spent the money on the toilets, so they should be open.
We stayed there a few months ago. We are fully self contained, and did not think it was an issue that the toilets were locked. A secure place to camp while visiting town. Thanks Cooroy
We are fully self contained, I support the need to have some restrictions. Otherwise you will have all the backpackers aa well as grey water let out everywhere which will attract ants
Yes bloody crazy, There are others just as silly look in camps 9, free camps with water,toilets, showers and dump points but says, must be self contained.
Cooroy No Worries RV is the place to stop , cheap and excellent facilities
I visited an Rv site yesterday just outside Cooroy at 154 Holts Road, Cooroy which looked pretty good. Plenty of facilities.
Didn’t know this site existed. We always by-pass the Sunshine coast because the caravan parks are soooo expensive.
Haven’t stayed in Cooroy but have at Kenilworth. And yes we do spend money in the town. We use the bakery, have lunch or morning tea in the cafes, visit the gift shops for pressies for the grandies and whatever puts its self out there. For years we bypassed Ingham until they offered a free or $10 per night camp. Now we stop over and on the last trip bought tyres, pies, groceries at the IGA, not woolies, and car parts plus the laundry. These stops do pull us in and we do spend in the towns that support us.
I spoke at length on the phone with the councillor in charge of the Cooroy project about the problem of grey water disposal at the Cooroy site about 18 months ago. Many vans and RVs have on board toilet facilities but no grey water storage and are thereby unable to use the site. With the Dump Eazy facility in place there, why would you not provide a few drain points for drainage hoses so that more vans could parkup and use their onboard showers and sinks at the site? It’s not rocket science! It’s not an expensive exercise and the site IS close to the sewerage treatment works. Where is their problem and one wonders how much constructive thought is put into making these decisions. From my conversation with the councillor he seemed to be under the impression that they had something wonderful in providing what they had and that it needed nothing further done to it. I am afraid I did not share his sentiments! If you want to entice people to use the site, offer them the whole carrot not just half.
If you would like to stay here fit a grey water tank. Cooroy is offering a god place to stay, all you need to do is fit a grey water tank, simple really
The fact is, we dont want you people pissing all over the place because your to bloody lazy to walk to the toilet in the middle of the night
we stayed there once, sites wern’t very level, no shade, saw a snake down the back corner, nice and tidy though, never again for us, Cooroy could do better, the pony club just down the road a bit would be more suitable
You will always have non self contained units staying, no matter what a sign says. Therefore the toilets should be open. Otherwise, some of the non self contained will use the bushes!
All in favour if being self contained though, as I hate walking in last night stayer’spag bol leftovers that wss dumped via the kitchen waste outlet.
If the toilets were opened and paid showers installed it would give the town a lot more income as you would get more visitors. Most people like to use toilets in the day and their own at night. Yes you would get Backpackers but they have just as much right as us Grey Nomads. I can’t understand when we go to a site where the grass is dying due to lack of rain the council would not encourage grey water to be put on the the grass. Makes sense to me.
If the toilets were opened and paid showers installed it would give the town a lot more income as you would get more visitors. Most people like to use toilets in the day and their own at night. Yes you would get Backpackers but they have just as much right as us Grey Nomads. I can’t understand when we go to a site where the grass is dying due to lack of rain the council would not encourage grey water to be put on the the grass. Makes sense to me.
No. It’s a good move. ( for RV people.) Keeps the numbers down.
Perhaps not so good for businesses.
Yes, I filled up my diesel tank.90 litres. Had a pizza. Bought food at IGA, Looking to buy stuff in the morning.
LOVE THE PLACE.