Plans are moving ahead for a new caravan park at a small beach town near Mackay in north Queensland, with the stated aim of satisfying an ‘unmet need’ for more camping options in the area.
The proposed development would create 95 camping sites and three serviced cabins for caravanners and holidaymakers on the southern side of Haliday Bay. The works would transform approximately 0.3% of the 35-hectare lot.
Plans for the creation of the Palms Haliday Bay have just been approved by Mackay Regional Council, despite objections from some local residents.
The Courier Mail newspaper reports that a Mackay council development planner said the increased tourism would contribute to the businesses of local pubs, Mt Jukes Family Farm, and the Seaforth Markets.
Grey nomdas heading north up the east coast will soon have another camping option PIC: Cizza
“The proposal takes advantage of the unique coastal location and scenic value of the subject site … the tourist park will diversify RV stay options,” they said.
Cr Belinda Hassan said while the planning scheme was a very ‘broad document’, the development was ‘in line with what we want to see in the region’.
According to the Courier Mail, supporting documents submitted to council said the development represented an opportunity to ‘satisfy unmet demand’ for campgrounds and RV parks in the Mackay region.
The tourist park will include a number of amenities including showers, camp kitchens, bathrooms and laundry.
Council staff recommended councillors approve the development with the added condition guests not stay on the site any longer than four consecutive weeks.
It was also stipulated the 95 camping sites consist of 80 powered and serviced sites, and 15 power- only sites. Each campsite will have its own parking space, and 25 visitor parking spaces will also be built.
The approval comes with 55 development conditions including a bushfire management plan, rezoning wildlife habitats and addressing drainage issues in the area.
However, the Courier Mail reports that local resident Rosemary Cox described the development as ‘environmentally delinquent’, given that natural wallaby and turtle habitats would be affected.
“It would be a travesty for the resident wildlife if the long and narrow site was developed and fenced off,” she said.
Another long-time Haliday Bay resident, Rick Williams, said he was ‘appalled’ by the development proposal.
“This is affecting people … look after what is the best, don’t allow money to come in and ruin it,” the Courier Mail reports him as saying.
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To us it seems like a good idea, having visited people in the area years ago , we welcome any proposal for more facilities to be opened , especially close to the coastline. Have to assume that the local council planning requirements are met
Well, on the surface this sounds good, just what is going to cost and what is being closed in a 50K radius to force people to use this. I do not believe a council, any council will do give ANYTHING for free.
More Caravan Parks are needed. I do not know the area, so cannot comment on the site of the park. More parks are needed throughout Australia. I have no doubt the price to stay in said park will be exorbitant. otherwise they wouldn’t build it. Australia is a very backward thinking country at times. And more often than not, local councils are full of small minded individuals.
This is truely a rear occurrence when a NEW caravan park is going to be built somewhere in Australia!! Caravan Parks are are normanly in the news when they are being closed or “upgraded” to cabin parks. In WA in our winter months, it is impossible to book a caravan park site anywhere North of Carnarvon unless you book 2 years ahead. Places like Exmouth, Onslow & Broome could all do with an extra two caravan parks each. These towns are surrounded by endless Commonwealth empty land so it should be no problem to build more caravan parks. At least WA caravaners could have somwhere to stay for the winter.
The tourism industry needs everyone’s support. It creates employment and enables small towns and their businesses to be economically viable.
the caravan industry provides thousands of people with work to build, service and sell their products. We must provide opportunities for these tourists or the industry will die.
the same applies to the vehicles that need gas, repairs , services and parts. Without these tourists many local businesses will disappear.
many small towns will not survive.
we needs councils to stop the big companies having the option of buying up tourism sites and developing them into over 55 villages, and taking massive profits and moving on.