Queuing at a van park ... but will there be a spare site?
The chronic shortage of caravan park sites in some parts of the country looks set to continue thanks, in part, to the huge costs involved in establishing new ones.
The Queensland city of Gladstone is a case in point. The local MP, Ken O’Dowd, has just warned that the site shortage there means the community is missing out on a huge opportunity to diversify the local economy … and to cash in on the grey nomad dollar.
“Up to this point in time we can’t offer grey nomads any facilities,” Mr O’Dowd told the Fraser Coast Chronicle. “The closest thing we can say to them is to go out to the Calliope River or the Gladstone Showgrounds, because those are the only two places we’ve got.”
Mr Flynn says one of the key problems is the massive expense of getting a new caravan park up and running.
“I’ve been told it can cost about $35,000 per site to develop a caravan park above the acquisition of the land,” he said. “So, if you count that up, that’s a pretty big commitment for an operator to get one up and running.”
It seems that in many areas, things won’t improve until the price of developing new parks comes down.
The Caravan Parks Association of Queensland says most charges do come at a local authority level and the costs vary from council to council.
“You wouldn’t build one for $30,000 per site,” he said. “That’s getting to a level where it’s unviable.”
Have you ever struggled to find a place at a caravan park, or parks, in a particular area? What are the worst areas for site shortage? What should be done to remedy the problem?
Comment below.
We were up in that area in October and found it very hard even to find overnight places, the main problem the free camp on the river has been closed since the floods, if this was re- opened it would help take the pressure of the other.
this should be a trigger to state and local government to open up showgrounds and other low cost basic camping areas with toilets,water and a dump point nearby or they will simply miss out on the drive tourism dollars.
This Guy needs to have more contact with the Gladstone council and ask them why there is such a shortage of caravan parks,as they were the people not so long back that knocked an application back for a new van park to be built in this very area.
I believe the shortage of caravan sites in this area has been caused by Industry and the need to accommodate workers. Due to demand, rental properties in this area are astronomical, leaving workers no option but to stay in caravan parks.
I’m trying to work out how it cost $35K per site…
What do you have for a Powered site..
– Stable Base to park on..
– electricity
– Water
– Sewerage
Grass and Maybe a Slab
I can’t see the cost be $35K per site..
Maybe $3-5k Not the $35k they are talking of..
J
What about the big cost items such as, the land, roads, the amenities and all the associated facilities. Not hard to get to $1 million dollars for around 30 sites.
Building a house these days costs about $250,000 for a basic place.
Many of us don’t need more caravan parks. We just need a level spot to park our self contained Motorhomes. Don’t need power, toilets, kitchens, recreation rooms, playgrounds, trampolines or swimming pools. So save the $35k (is it really that much) and make the town an “RV welcome’ town.
I have not been to Gladstone as yet, but I am sure there are a number of small areas that a motorhome could pull up for the night.
The local Showgrounds option is a good one for many, however if I have come into a town to stock up, I look for a pretty spot with trees. By a river is heaven 🙂
In nearly a year of traveling, I have stayed in a caravan park only twice. It is not what I want or need.
Most van parks put too much emphasis on things like swimming pools, jumping castles and play areas where grey nomads can play….Park owners should ask “who are our regular clients?” and satisfy their needs, not the needs of school holiday clients, as school holidays only occupy a small portion of the year.
I for one, have been travelling around Aust for 2 years and have stayed in parks for 5 nights in that time.
Can understand the cost of developing a caravan park. It recently cost my daughter $15K for their septic system. Tourist area but not close to a town. Had to meet environmental regulations. Just for the family not a development
With the cost of machinery to develop site, tradesman, turf (if you can’t wait for the grass to grow) buildings (amenities block, camp kitchen). These are the basics for the majority of travellers.
Then there is the cost of insurance, public & private liability insurance,( recently these cost my son over $400 for 3 days) purchase of the land & on going running costs ( rates & staff)
It all adds up very quickly.
We are opening Charleville Bush Camp this Easter, we will have a dump point, water taps, rubbish bins, huge pet exercise area, camp fire and camp hosts. The cost will be $5 per person per night. We are two km from Charleville on the Adavale Road. Just what your all looking for!!