The northern New South Wales town of Wingham is one community that obviously doesn’t need convincing of the economic value of enticing more grey nomads and other caravanners and motorhomers to stay … whether or not they pay to camp!
The popular free camping site at Wingham Riverside Reserve is to be given a $100,000 upgrade that will see a significant lift in the facilities on offer.
The Manning River Times newspaper reports that plans include upgrading the parking area for caravans and RVs, installing more water taps for campers, installing a Dump Ezy dump point, and upgrading the toilet block to include hot showers.
Improvements to the parking area at include an improved gravel surface and the construction of a central access road. Â By improving the parking, it is hoped up to 26 caravans will be able to fit on the site.
“We have visitors all the time,” said Bill Kneipp from the Wingham Advancement Group. “In summer we had up to 20 caravans there at a time and it brings a lot of money into the town.”
The green light for the project was given last month when member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead, announced the project had been successful in obtaining $102,880 in funding from the State government’s Stronger Country Communities fund.
Work is expected to take place during the winter months with the site hopefully completed in time for the busy summer season.
Loved it and vowed to return. Found the Flying Fox colony fascinating and enjoyed the short walk to town. Visited a hairdresser, beautician, supermarket and servo. Friendly town.
Yes we have stayed there a couple of times, lovely town friendly locals, coles supermarket, great cafes, plenty of places to get takeaway or dine in meals. So many pretty places to see within an hours drive from Wingham. Accoustic music festival in Oct is fantastic too.
Congratulations Wingham on leading the way for other towns to envy.
From an ex-local
The up grade should remove the bollards that where placed at the back of the area. Bring the land up to level at the start of the area so there are no low spots for water to settle thus making them unusable. Don’t forget that tents use the space as well. All a tent needs is a level flat grassy spot free from water.Great to see hot showers installed.In the long term l would like to see the farmers paddock to the right as you come in used as a camping area with access to the river. Ideally this could be purshased by council to make an extended riverside reserve for both locals and visitors.
Have not been there yet,but will certainly support Wingham should I pass that way as we have done with any RV friendly towns. Good on the council and Wingham community.Stevo.
It’s a good place if you like stinking flying foxes crapping all over you and your van, last time we stayed there we where besieged by a drunken drugged up mad woman throwing beer bottles at people, never again