The council-run New South Wales caravan park which sparked community outrage when it abruptly closed its doors earlier this year is set to re-open.
In March, the Dungog Shire Council said ‘safety and compliance’ issues meant the Williams River Holiday Park in Clarence Town, just north of Newcastle, had to immediately stop welcoming guests.
There were fears in some quarters that the park, which sits on the banks of the Williams River, might never re-open … but those concerns now appear unfounded.
At an extraordinary meeting of council last week, councillors considered a special report into the longer-term future of the park and agreed a revitalisation plan. The Dungog Chronicle reports that an updated approval has now been granted to operate 63 sites. The decision will see the reopening of the remaining riverside camping area to self-contained visitation, increasing the capacity at the park to an additional 34 sites.
The council agreed that dilapidated onsite cabins will also be removed allowing their former locations to be refitted as powered sites, allowing council to seek permission for a further five sites.
The newspaper says the council will also investigate funding options to provide additional facilities, camp kitchens and other resources such as cabins.
Dungog Shire Council General Manager Coralie Nichols said the council’s decision was based on expert industry analysis, council business planning and community expectations.
An SMA Tourism report found that while the park in its current configuration had peak periods for only 12 weeks of the year, there were 40 weeks when daily occupancy rates were low and didn’t sustain the costs of operation.
“The 2017-2018 fees collected from the park were $91,000, against expenses to the council of $201,236, and the financial review suggests the business hasn’t grown or profits increased since 1981 – although the park does contribute to local businesses, especially our visitor economy,” Ms Nichols said. “They’ve concluded that despite those high costs of operation for the council, there’s a strong economic argument for reactivating the Williams River Holiday Park … there’s a key finding that for every $1 of revenue earned by the park, it generates $1.38 in community or local economic benefit.”
The holiday park will continue to operate under the care and control of Dungog Shire Council until an expression of interest process regarding the future management of the site is undertaken.
The benefit to a community far exceeds the gate takings. Many of these smaller communities depend on the grey nomad for increased patronage. Hopefully the cost to stay at this park is reasonable because if it costs too much to stay it’ll defeat the purpose. $200k seems very expensive for annual upkeep when compared to many of the volunteer run Lions Park. Perhaps Council should investigate a system where powered sites attract a cost and self contained vehicles stay for a maximum of (x) days via donation. From experience it is the local business community who thrive when the grey nomads start arriving. Of course the freeloaders (and back packers) need to be watched as unfortunately they become a drain on any community. Good on Clarence Town. I remember it as a lovely little community beside the river and would certainly look forward to spending more time there when we return to the Hunter.
These Councils need to look at the bigger picture when setting up their caravan parks as the grey nomad has become a discerning traveller who appreciates and supports a town which supports them and will quickly bypass and town which doesn’t.
Look at the Loins Park at Bulahdelah. We were told that in the ~10 years since the town was bypassed not one business has shut down and a lot of the recognition went to the Lions Club who maintains the donation camping spot across the river. Many self contained grey nomads stop there and spend money in the town. Win win and a great initiative by the Lions club and Bulahdelah.
So as a ratepayers you would be happy to subsidise a failing business.
“So as a ratepayers you would be happy to subsidise a failing business.”
Absolutely I would be happy…of course, if it meant saving the township, bolstering visitors and helped maintain the value of my land…you’d be crazy not to see some rates money go into such a project…would you like to live in a dying town?
I travel extensively for work thousands of km a month.
I can tell you where ever there are travellers no matter grey nomads, backpackers, young families, people who live full time in their outfit, the contribution to community is enormous. I often see out back communities in western and far north Queensland bustling with travellers.
And where ever there are low cost or free camps the more travellers there are and the more they contribute to the communities.
It is awesome to see the benefits travellers bring, for all those communities here is a big thank you !!