It’s official! Queensland’s Fraser Coast Regional Council has voted to have plans prepared to explore alternative uses for the decades-old beachside Torquay Caravan Park site.
Late last year, work was temporarily paused on the park’s redevelopment to allow for further review.
Council will now develop concept plans for the Torquay site before seeking community feedback on its future.
“We are looking at two alternative options for Torquay – an open space with basic facilities or a premium playground and recreational hub,” Cr Lachlan Cosgrove said.
Decisions to be made about the future of the van parks. PIC: Fraser Coast Regional Council
“We’ll be asking the community for their thoughts before making a final decision on whether to go ahead with one of these options, a hybrid option containing some elements of both, or continue with the Torquay Caravan Park redevelopment.”
Among the two of the alternate uses for the Torquay caravan park site are:
The council has though decided to press on with a refurbishment of nearby Pialba Caravan park.
“The Pialba Caravan Park also has aging infrastructure that needs urgent upgrades,” said Cr Zane O’Keefe. “After reviewing cost-saving options, it was clear major reductions weren’t possible without lowering the quality of the park … that’s why we’re moving forward with the redevelopment using the current design.”
The council says that, while the infrastructure at Torquay would eventually need upgrades, it is in better condition than Pialba, meaning there is less urgency to act immediately.
Cr Zane O’Keefe said the Council-owned beachfront caravan parks have been operating for decades and need upgrades to meet modern standards and visitor expectations.
“The Scarness Caravan Park redevelopment was completed last year, and the first stage of improvements at Burrum Heads finished earlier this year, with work now underway on the next stage,” he said.
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When it comes to council Caravan Parks, what about catering for locals, single pension people and hardship families instead of tourists especially this day and age
Did you realise, locals and those dreadful outsiders, actually love to be able to be close to the sea and have nearby access to it. I know that rellies of mine lived and worked in Maryborough, but every Chridtmas , hitched up their caravan to go to Scarness with family joining them.
They are the holidays kids never forget.
Why don’t you get out of your chair for a nice walk and talk to people who are visiting the spot you have access to every day.
When I travel, I like to meet the locals and have a chat. It’s part of my enjoyment as a camper.
Well said
And don’t forget grey nomads put a good volume of funds into community they stay in.
Can’t do that can spend 40 million building council offices but building housing for those people you mentioned no way.
Honestly, there are too many “premium playgrounds” with bizarre gymnasium equipment that does not get used – it would be a terrible waste of good land. Council planning processes allow for community input BEFORE plans are prepared. I hope this council comes to their senses before opportunities are lost.
Community input! That is a joke. They will do a survey/consultation with questions designed to get the answer they want not what the community want. No matter what happens it will mean higher rates for the locals as the caravan parks were one of the few council enterprises that made money. After 40 years our large family group did not rebook for Christmas at Pialba this year. Nothing to do with the state of the park, it was fine. Just the continual uncertainty with what the council is going to do we decided we had had enough. Just wait the council will make it so expensive the park will become nonviable and they will sell it to developers for a once of cash grab.
My local council spent $90,000 on park play equipment despite the same supplier quoting $45,000, fully installed,to the local committee. I am in favour of the foreshore being available to all, regardless of their financial situation. Too much of Australias’ coastline is being locked up by various groups including for “cultural” reasons !!!
Not in Hervey Bay.
$385 per week plus $20 for every public/school holidays sorry not for this old fella, as of end of February 2025.
As a long time resident I only have one sentiment, new parks gotta mean new council members next election! Don’t change what already works, the current parks ARE NOT overrun every day – far from it & parking is of far more concern. Do up the Caravan Park & enjoy the continuing income for many more years to come.
No matter what the public want their minds are already made up, they will appease the sheraton people and tare the park down, hope I’m wrong but I’ve heard the decision is already made
Councils are run by people a lot younger than me , but are elected by the people. Seems like everywhere councils have a utopian vision to change what has worked for a very long time, and that is the good old caravan parks that we grew up in , a relaxed atmosphere of families enjoying basic stuff. Having a beer, sitting in your fold up chair with friends, looking at the view. Now the councils want to have Green spaces, activity centres, weird play equipment that’s not fun, rules and regulations that just empower the select few to be a pain in the arse. But from what I see, no amount of backlash from the actual users of the caravan parks can turn the woke tide. Good luck !
I don’t believe they need another park, not when they can play on the beach my kids had fun looking for things, yapping fishing,not interested in a park. Camping is good skills for children.
What a sad day it will be when and if they close this park, It was the first park i stayed at as a 14yo and now a 67 still go there and looking forward to taking my grandson in the coming months, I think the council need to look at the costs to businesses along that strip or are they blinded by what might be coming from the new high rise development in Scarness. Yes it is in need of a makeover but it’s a income producing asset no matter how you look at it and it’s been allowed to go down hill, maybe thats the plan all along.
Hi just to add my 2bobs worth this council seemsto be anti tourism something that brings in revenue not only at thee park but also shops on the esplanade and other businesses in the bay take away the park and word of mouth will soon see hervey bay and maryborough black listed by all nomads and campers.As previously stated here I also think it is at the behest of the big monstrosity about to be built and spoil the esplanade(money talks and greases palms so they say).
It not about more parks or open space . It is about making the area more attractive for developers to put built high rise on the other side of the esplanade. That was very clear by the presentation of one pro delelopment Councillor at the recent meeting