The popular camping ground at Lake Leschenaultia, about 45 minutes out of Perth, could be set to close as the local council seeks to cut costs.
The chief executive of Mundaring Shire Council, Jonathan Throssell, told the ABC it was considering a range of savings measures, including closing the campground … but he insisted no final decision had yet been made.
“The task in front of council is a large one in order to respond to community expectations around reducing the level of forecast rates increases,” Mr Throssell said. “We had a series of workshops and the last one identified a number of areas where councillors believed that we needed to reduce or stop delivering service.”
Lake Leschenaultia was constructed in 1898 as a reservoir and has been a picnic and swimming spot since 1949. The council-run area has 23 campsites.
The council is also said to be examining the cost of running the canoe hire business and the kiosk at the lake, and considering whether they could be run privately.
“We are looking at ways of reducing the deficit, which means we either stop providing the services or outsourcing those commercial activities,” Throssell said.
Community consultation on all the council’s cost-saving proposals will start in a week’s time. No final decision on the fate of the campsite will be made until at least June.
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Amazing, council all over Aus are opening camp grounds except for some places in WA. Instead of looking at a deficit try looking at filling the camp ground and getting your budget in order with onsite services like hire and cafe….
just lease the whole thing out thats no cost to council and they still own property .why close it