Supporters of an iconic beachfront Queensland caravan park are rallying to its defence, amidst growing fears it could be about to close.
The fate of the Torquay Caravan Park remains very much in limbo as Fraser Coast Regional Council says it is considering a raft of possible options, including turning it into open space with basic facilities; creating a premium playground and recreation hub; and keeping it as a caravan park.
Last week, the council announced it was going ahead with a $10.5 million upgrade of the nearby Pialba Caravan Park, thereby adding to suspicions that the fate of the Torquay park is all but sealed.
The Courier Mail newspaper reports that, earlier this week, about 35 people, including members of the Torquay Progress Association, met to voice their concerns, and to consider what actions they could take.
The council has been pondering its plans for all of its caravan parks in the area. PIC: Fraser Coast Regional Council
The newspaper reports that the caravan park is regarded highly among business owners for the visitors and revenue it brings in, especially during the ‘grey nomad’ season in winter.
It said business owners agreed Torquay Caravan Park should be awarded the money for an upgrade, and did not understand why it was being singled out for closure, with both Pialba and Scarness seemingly safe.
The Courier Mail reports that Troy Ignatenko, the owner of Banana Bender and Valentino’s Emporium, told the meeting it was ‘very unfair’ that the council could deliberate on the caravan park’s future.
“It would have a huge impact on our trade,” he said. “I would say 25% of our turnover comes from people staying in the caravan parks.”
He went on to say he was ‘gobsmacked’ by reports the park could be scrapped.
“As a business owner, it’s like fighting a boxing match with one hand behind your back,” he said. “Scarness gets a lovely refurb, Pialba is going to be renovated, and then they say Torquay could become greenspace, I just don’t think that’s fair.”
Hervey Bay MP David Lee was at the meeting and said he had yet to hear a person that wanted to get rid of the caravan park.
“The parks are part of that diverse (tourism) package that we’re offering,” he said. “It’s integral to the success of our local economy.”
The Courier Mail reports that the meeting resolved to set up a fighting fund for the campaign to save the park, with businesses in the association contributing to it.
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You need to go to the website of Fraser Coast Regional Council, and have your say through the proper public consultation section.
I certainwill be doing that.
Once again it comes from Councils who would rather dictate what is going to happen in their areas, instead of listening to the rate payers. The people (rate payers) are the ones who put them their in the first place to work in their interests, not to be dictated to by self centered individuals who think they have all the rights and says.
I fully support the retention of all our coastal caravan parks.
They provide an invaluable location that attracts my family and others to these iconic locations.
Torquay should be retained and upgraded not just for the now but the many generations that will also enjoy the location
Saddened by the loss of our coastal caravan park areas getting less and less. Good people are being deprived of their desire of a small pocket of beachside adventure because of council small minded thinking or is it just they can’t be bothered.
The ongoing conflict in communities for the removal of beach side caravan parks by councils has to be addressed and quickly. The caravan parks were there, to allow community visits by travelling holiday makers and substantially boost income for those community businesses over the year. Bringing in much needed income and allowing business to flourish and local councils to also gather much needed funding by charging campers a small fee for use of the beachside allotments gave them the ability to upkeep those areas. Camping and caravanning is a long held tradition of this country and it appears Councils are selfishly deciding on their own that these area should be protected and changed into parks or non existent places that will be left to go back to nature. This leaves caravan park beachside area in a dismal place for the future. Our population is growing and the potential of further demand on areas near beaches to holiday at for few days will only increase in time, so where does one go without these beachside facilities? I for one would by pass a town which no longer allowed beachside camping and caravanning. I don’t want to stop kilometres from the beach all the time, it’s not on my bucket list.
What’s the point in stopping to buy groceries and get fuel if you can’t settle there for the night or 2. If I feel that way how many others feel that way too . Wake up councils or is it that you are too lazy , too greedy or don’t want to have the responsibility of these areas any longer as a revenue path. This is happening everywhere it’s got to stop. My my this country is going to the dogs in more way’s than one. Sad decision indeed.
I have just read everything on the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s website in relation to the redevelopment of the FOUR caravan parks. Even now, there is no mention of the retraction of the redevelopment proposal for Torquay Beach Caravan Park. To a casual observer, it would appear that everything is rainbows and unicorns and everyone is deierously happy with the progress of the Council’s actions. From what I can see, you can go to https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/have-your-say and state your views.