Plans to slash the number of tourist sites at a beautiful coastal caravan park on the New South Wales Mid North Coast have sparked an angry reaction.
Opponents of the proposals for the park at Woolgoolga will be out in force at a public meeting on the issue tonight. Part of Coffs Harbour City Council’s draft proposal for changes to the town’s foreshore involve reducing the number of sites at the beachside van park to 75, and building new cabins.
The Coffs Coast Advocate reports that the group Save Woopi Beach – formed in the months leading up to the release of the plan – has come out with all guns firing against the proposed
More cabins and less sites are planned
plans. They claim sites at the caravan park will be reduced by 40% and it will have knock-on effects for business in town.
“They are doing this so they can more than double the current average night fee for the park,” member John Fielding told the newspaper. “Affordable family holidays at the beach will be gone.”
The group also claims there won’t be an area where you can lay a picnic rug or beach towel that isn’t within five metres of a path, car park or building or overlooked by villas.
The council is also proposing installing low-level bollard and chain fencing around the caravan park and upgrading facilities, including the entry.
As part of the wider foreshores plan, it wants to demolish the existing surf club and move it south to the current Marine Rescue building. The Coffs Coast Advocate reports that other parts of the plan include demolishing existing public amenities to construct a new facility, as well as the addition and upgrade of public facilities such as barbecues, seating, showers, and pedestrian and cycle paths.
Coffs Harbour City Council says that while the foreshore park will lose some caravan sites, the nearby Lakeside Holiday Park will gain 17 new sites.
* Have you stayed at the Woolgoolga park? What do you think of the proposals? Comment below
I was under the impression that beaches belong to the People….Who gives Councils this power too take over Lock stock and barrel
wonderfull tourist park , heavily booked, caravaners stay longer and put money back into the town, cabin people just move on. We are Club caravaners and you will lose our clientele and our future custom if this poor proposal goes ahead.
Bet no one asked the Motels what they think of MORE cabins being put in to take their clientele.
great spot but once again council or park owners are after the almighty dollar and the cry out if we look for free camping spots also the towns miss out due to less caravaners stopping in the town
I believe it’s high time we called them cabin parks….Caravan Parks they are not
hi all. a great spot but again council or park owners are after the almighty dollar.