With the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels moving gradually towards coming into service, Geelong councillors have given approval for a new $10 million-plus caravan park in Lara in the city’s northern suburbs.
Although council officers had recommended the planning committee reject the proposal for 48 caravan and 14 tent sites, as well as 56 cabins, the seven-member committee unanimously supported an alternative motion that called for a planning permit to be granted.
The 16-hectare site sits within a farming zone between Serendip Sanctuary and You Yangs Regional Park, and the Geelong Advertiser reports that the hope is that visitors will turn day trips into overnight stays, with the benefit to flow to local businesses.
It is hoped new camping options will persuade more visitors to spend time in Geelong and surrounds. PIC: Mark Direen / Pexels
The newspaper reports Geelong Mayor, Stretch Kontelj, as saying the caravan park was needed in the growing area and the decision showed Geelong was ‘open for business’.
“The Avalon precinct is going to become the engine room not only for Geelong, but for Victoria, and accommodation is going to be sorely needed in the area,” he said.
The project received 15 letters of support and 12 objections during a public consultation period last year.
The Geelong Advertiser reports that concerns cited by objectors included an increase in traffic, impacts to the rural character of the area, and issues relating to drainage and flooding.
Supporters mostly highlighted the flow-on benefits to small businesses in Lara.
Council officers had recommended the committee reject the application, which it viewed as being inconsistent with Lara structure plan which seeks to maintain farming uses and rural landscape settings, north of the Lara settlement boundary.
The planning committee’s decision to ignore the officers’ advice comes hot on the heels of news that plans to make Seagull Paddock in Geelong’s northern suburbs a low-cost camping destination are also moving ahead quickly.
The area is an open space drainage reserve, with scenic views including walking tracks and picnic facilities.
The City of Geelong says the site offers considerable potential, thanks to its proximity to Spirit of Tasmania Quay, and its easy access to Melbourne Road providing connectivity to major tourist attractions.
“I’m very pleased that great strides are being taken towards this idea becoming a reality, and I look forward to progress continuing,” said Mayor Kontelj.
And, on the other side of the Bass Strait, it is being reported that Launceston City Council has unveiled plans for a new motorhome rest facility as it seeks to capture some of the additional self-driving tourists expected from the new Spirit vessels.
The proposed ‘Kanamaluka RV Rest’ will reportedly feature 11 powered bays for motorhomes and caravans at the Northern Inveresk Car Park, complete with toilet amenities and waste disposal facilities.
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Great initiative by the COGG only down side is it has to be approved by planning on past performance by planning this could take years
I hope it doesn’t
how can this be aCARAVAN PARK when there are more cabins than cv sites.
itis time for more realistic naming of rv stop areas. Even cabin/ caravan park would be better than unrealistic naming where there are more cabins than other sites.
I agree. Many so-called caravan parks have far more cabins than sites as there is more money to be made from cabins per night, (RAC in WA as an example). They should have a different zoning for Cabin Parks & Caravan Parks, not together as is presently. There is also a chronic seasonal shortage of caravan parks with available sites. If I was younger and thinking of starting caravanning, I would be forgetting the whole idea. Try booking a site anywhere North of Australia for June, July or August, even a year ahead and you will be told “you are dreaming”.
Total stupidity to have more cabins, it isn’t a caravan park in the true sense of the wording.
Perhaps the many visitors to the airshow could stay in one of the many motels in Lara………
Why “should they”? It isn’t a right to have a caravan park, it is a facility and service, determined by supply and demand. People act as if they ar being discriminated against if facilities arn’e to their liking/convenience…
So council didn’t want something that would bring a lot more tourists into the city, so businesses will be the big winners, what are they, ostriches, keeping their heads buried in the sand? Yes I agree it isn’t a caravan park in the true sense of the wording with more cabins than caravan sites, emphasis should have been on caravan sites as that amount is nothing in peak periods and there will be a lot of people still turned away, as 48 is nothing in peak times.
I don’t know where in the city you could have a caravan park ? Lara has the airshow, where people bring their caravans and park on the local footy oval. A caravan park is definitely needed and with cabins is fabulous. Lara also needs accommodation as Avalon airport is right there. So the cabins will be good for overnighters. And 48 is nothing during peak times, its a lot more than if it wasn’t there. It’s a great start. Well done COGG. And of course people staying there will also come into Geelong, as now they won’t have to tow their vans through town and try to find a park. Win win.
Considering the average thieving price at a caravan park these days highly doubt it will attract people to stay. A lot are $60+ just for a non powered tent site why will people waste their money at a camp ground when its often cheaper in comparison to rent a motel room or just carry on till you get to a national park an camp.
Not only is that a wet area its a bird habitat. That’s not enough van sites.
Launceston are closer to the mark with « rest areas for vans and self contained vehicles particularly if targeting Spirit travellers who only want an overnight stay. But then again most of our public officers travel first class on the public and wouldn’t know,,,,,
With caravanners waiting for The Spirit, and the Avalon Airshow, and other visitors to the South-West, it does make sense for this type of accommodation in the area. If there is sufficient patronage, the caravan site number could (subjet to approval) be increased. If the operators price the sites competively, and offer good facillities they will have a great opportunity.
It’s becoming harder to find caravan parks so good one, developers have been turning the whole world into the exact same place, soon no one will bother to travel, same world over, there used to be many differences even just between the states, and many more places can’t even be visited, tourism is an expensive con
Now if it was a low cost site ($25 power, 15 without a night) with heaps of van sites half powered & half unpowered and the same amount of cabins at there normal price, then that would work and people would stay longer.
I am for anything that goes against the wishes of the council.
I would like a caravan park permanently for ppl who can’t afford house or unit to live in these days.
I would live in my van permanently and enjoy my own life.
It would be so much easier and cheaper. Can it happen???
Only every 28 days, then you have to move on.
Excellent, but we particularly need more of the rest stops that Launceston area is proposing, as so many travellers are now self contained, rather than staying a costly caravan/ cabin park,
If it goes ahead I hope the COGG and State Government have plans and finances in place to improve roads and railway crossings in the area. Lara as been expanding every year and the exit roads have remained the same for decades.