There have been renewed calls for a new caravan park to be built beside the Murray River in Albury as a way of drawing more grey nomads and other tourists to the country New South Wales town.
Murray King is running for election to Albury Council, and says the lack of a riverfront caravan park is a massive wasted opportunity.
“We’re the only river town that doesn’t have one and – without being exact – the entire population of all the Murray River towns, Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura, equals Albury’s regional population,” he told the Border Mail newspaper. “We’re half the distance of what Melbourne is to Mildura, yet Mildura’s caravan parks are booked out years in advance.”
There was a park by the river from 1929 to the early 1980s but Noreuil Park was closed to campers amid concerns about flooding and falling tree branches.
“I think Noreuil has had its day, but there are areas south of the Union Bridge which are zoned industrial,” Mr King said.
He told the Border Mail that a park could be created opposite Wodonga’s Gateway Village and a bridge built across the river to allow access to St Ives hotel and the Gateway Lakes area.
“When you look around the world they landed a probe on a comet, which was half a million miles from Earth, so I don’t think raising an area abutting the Murray River would be too difficult a task,” he said. “I really don’t think it’s a complex project to get going and complete … I would find it a bit strange if anyone was against it.”
* Would a new riverfront caravan park persuade you to linger longer in Albury? Comment below.
We stay in Albury often, would absolutely love a riverfront van park, as long as the cost wasn’t prohibitive.
Wanted to spend a couple of months in either Albury or Wodonga. Park costs reflect the dearth of parks available, Most north of $40 a night. They want to cater to the younger holiday makers and couldn’t care less about the grey nomads. Nothing overly special about either place and far more interesting places to visit upstream and downstream of the place. Even places like Echuca are over priced, Tongala is closer, cheaper and accessible. Swan Hill is also overpriced. Pental Island is close, cheap, really well maintained and right on the river. IMHO