There has been pushback from some local residents over a proposal to trial an RV park in the Darwin suburb of Fannie Bay.
Darwin City Council recently opened a survey to gather feedback on the idea of trialling the park this dry season at a site at Bundilla Beach, just north of the Darwin Ski Club.
“City of Darwin is exploring ideas to develop the local economy, support tourism growth and position Darwin as an attractive tourism destination,” the council said. “By implementing the proposed Bundilla Beach RV park trial, we would be able to provide more accommodation options near the CBD during Darwin’s busy 2023 peak visitor period.”
If supported, the trial would see around 20 RVs accommodated at Bundilla Beach.
The proposed site of the RV Park trial. PIC: City of Darwin
The council said that, should the proposed trial proceed and be found successful, further assessments will be undertaken to determine whether a long-term RV Park is suitable.
However, the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Fannie Bay, Bret Potter, told the NT News that he had gathered more than 177 signatures to a petition opposing the move, with more to be counted.
Mr Potter said while some outside the electorate would be in favour, the most important views were those of locals. And, he told the NT News that the proposed park would not fit with a planned $3 million activation of the area which has been included in the budget and which would involve a half-basketball court, four food truck sites, and improved lighting and irrigation.
“There was a 2016 consultation report done by council in relation to Vesteys Beach and the overwhelming and resounding response to that was that they didn’t want any type of commercial development at Vesteys (Bundilla) Beach,” he told the NT News. “Specifically they said they didn’t want RV or caravan parks put in … 64% of respondents said they wanted natural activities including walking trails, playgrounds, and 69% said minor facility upgrades like improve the car park, picnic areas, existing facilities and lighting.”
But Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis told the NT News that the proposed RV park, which would run temporarily over the area’s bitumen car park, would not impact Mr Potter’s vision for the area.
“That’s just a distraction – it’s smoke and mirrors,” he said. “We’re trying to do something to address social problems in the area, and also bring people to the city, but if people don’t want it there that’s fine – we’ll go back to the drawing board and find another area.”
Mr Vatskalis told the NT News that more than 600 people had filled out the council survey on the proposal.
“Hearing the views of the Darwin community is a crucial part of council’s decision making, so we will be seeking feedback through the master planning process,” he said.
The NT News says a report will now be prepared for councillors to consider at an upcoming meeting.
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Darwin council should’ve used the old ‘Darwin hospital’ site for this. It’s much closer to the city,… but they decided to put in a garden and kids playground there instead.
The site they are ‘trialling’ is well away from the residential area, and the city, so I’m thinking the 177 people who signed the opposing petition probably had no idea what it was for.
Darwin people need to get with the times and learn to progress.
Barry – the audacity, hey. Creating a green outdoor space for families in suburbia…. what a ridiculous concept.
Sarcasm aside, I suspect the idea is to NOT have a caravan park placed in the middle of suburbia. Bundilla is a far better option than the Old Darwin Hospital site. It has ample parking, it’s central to most attractions such as East Point, the Gardens, Mindil Beach, sailing and ski clubs, museums, and local markets.
As for why it was canned, I would have thought 177 responses was not enough to stop the proposal entirely and would instead perhaps question WHO didn’t want it at Bundilla.
DCC will need to clean up the crime and itinerant problem to make this work. Vans will be constantly ransacked / vandalised if they are parked there !
Unless the crime wave extending from Darwin right down to Uluru is stopped in its tracks, there will be no need for any extra RV parking because existing places will be empty.
Just remember tourists come to friendly towns. Bali is cheaper again. What goes around comes around