The council-run beachfront caravan parks on Queensland’s Fraser Coast are to undergo a major transformation.
Master plan designs for the Pialba and Torquay Beachfront Tourist Parks have been given the green light by Fraser Coast Council … despite some reservations.
Councillor Jade Wellings said in a statement that the idea was to ensure the parks were commercially viable, and that they met current standards and visitor expectations.
“The existing infrastructure in the parks is ageing and needs replacing and the parks need upgrading to suit modern vans, especially RVs,” she said. “An online survey was conducted, and we received 906 submissions of which key elements for change included larger sites and upgrading park amenities.”
According to the statement, the master planning project has moved to the next phase and detailed civil and building designs are currently being prepared.
The Courier Mail reports that it is anticipated that the Pialba and Torquay redevelopment projects will be completed by late 2025. The project will be delivered in multiple successive stages to ensure that the parks can remain open in sections as work progresses.
Among other things, the rejuvenated Torquay park will have larger sites, 62 caravan sites including nine drive-through sites, three campsites, and wider internal roads.
Pialba will also have larger sites, 85 caravan sites, four campsites, and wider internal roads.
The Courier Mail reports that, during this week’s council meeting, Councillor Zane O’Keefe expressed concerns about the proposed two-storey caretaker’s accommodation and office, describing it as ‘guard towers’.
He voiced concerns the building would detract aesthetically from the rest of the surrounding neighbourhood.
“I’m very concerned with the idea that we will have three, what I can only describe as guard towers, on the Esplanade when we currently have no two storey buildings on that foreshore ground,” Mr O’Keefe said.
In the end, however, councillors voted to adopt the master plan with a view to look at the finer details when a detailed design plan is available.
Very few campsites. Would have thought campsites by the dozen might be appropriate. Nobody wants the cheaper end of the market!
I am poor but decent & would appreciate a cheap option just to be able to see the whole Australia without spending my whole pension .
And what is happening to Scarness park which is supposed to be upgrading now?
The Pialba park is actually the Scarness park.
No there are two – one at Pialba and one at Scarness. About 3 km apart. There’s another one at Torquay another
2-3 km along the Esplanade as well.
Pialba park is the one near the Water Park the Scarness park is just past the Beachouse
Then what is the name of the park in Scarness currently under going upgrades???
Full name is Fraser Coast Beach Front Park Scarness
Fantastic. Good thinking, they could probably do with a few more parks up there too.
About time the council lifted their thinking on both of these parks. Let’s hope it further increases tourism in Hervey Bay.
The biggest problems with urangan,torquay,and pialba foreshore caravan parks as everone knows is security — what is being done about this ?
Totally agree, security is a big problem and Council is not interested
What security issues do they have ? If this is a problem , are the incidents being reported to police ? That’s their job , not that they haven’t got enough to do already! I am sure that some of these perpetrators are multi tasking elsewhere.
How awful to have these 2 storey buildings on this beautiful foreshore
I live in Hervey Bay. Pialba park now has a big fence along the roadway. I would think that this will have helped with security. I can’t believe how long it will take for the Scarness and Torquay upgrades, 2025, as it has been going on for some time already. Two stories is totally unnecessary and a terrible shame.
I wonder if anyone knows whether the council in this neck of the woods has changed its stance on their NO PET policy? This policy is statewide among Councils, and frankly it definitely could do with an overhaul. I mean, how many people travel without a pet these days? Seriously?! The current position is restrictive on those who choose to travel with their little buddies, and not very inclusive.
I believe the Scarness park that is presently under redevelopment will have a dog friendly section
We don’t stay in caravan parks that have dogs. Owners expect them to be patted and loved as they do. If we wanted to pat a dog we’d get our own.