Larger sites planned in Council caravan park revamp
Larger sites and dog-friendly spaces are among the key features of a $17m plan to redevelop the four beachfront caravan parks operated by the Fraser Coast Regional Council.
At its March meeting, Council adopted master plans for the Burrum Heads and Scarness Beachfront Tourist Parks.
“The infrastructure and services in the parks were designed for a different era and have reached the end of their working life,” Cr Wellings said.
“The master plans were developed in consultation with holiday makers so we could understand their needs and aspirations.
“Funding for the redevelopment of the four beachfront caravan parks has been included in Council’s long term Capital Program with the works to occur over the next five years, starting with Scarness where work is already underway.”
As part of the development of the master plans, surveys were made available online and emailed to more than 3100 guests who had previously stayed at either Burrum Heads or Scarness Beachfront Tourist Parks.
Comment was sought through articles on the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland’s Let’s Go Caravan and Camping website, the Fraser Coast Chambers of Commerce, mail outs to residents and businesses adjacent to the parks and at Fraser Coast Visitor Information Centres.
Under the master plans, the number of sites at the Burrum Heads and Scarness parks will be cut by up to 30% to allow for bigger sites.
“Making the sites larger, and offering dog-friendly spaces, will improve our ability to attract more users across the year which will offset losses from the reduction in sites,” Cr Wellings said.
“We are listening to the feedback we have received. Visitors want larger sites to accommodate the increase in travelling families who require larger caravans and therefore more room.”
The master plans were developed by SGL Consultants and include implementation plans to stage the works.
The master plans include:
Burrum Heads:
- A new site office and manager’s residence in the southern part of the Park along Burrum Street;
- New park entry point with a pull up bay in front of the new site office;
- One-way internal roads;
- Where possible, angled sites to allow vans to be reversed into place in one movement;
- Drive through sites in the centre of the park for larger vans and motorhomes;
- Separate toilet and showers block with a laundry facility to service the southern and northern sections of the Park;
- Separate BBQ area and camp kitchen for the southern and northern sections;
- Camp sites adjacent to the new BBQ area and opposite toilets, showers and laundry;
Scarness:
- A new site office and manager’s residence adjacent to the new park entry;
- Visitor car parking and pull up/check-in bay in front of the new site office;
- Park roadways one-way into and through the park;
- Caravan sites, where possible to be angled, to allow vans to be reversed into site in one movement;
- New BBQ area and camp kitchen to service the southern portion of the Park, along with a new amenities-block and laundry;
- BBQ area and camp kitchen to service the northern portion of the Park, along with a new amenities-block and laundry;
The Pialba and Burrum Heads parks were considered the most suitable for allowing dogs, subject to having appropriate terms and conditions in place.
The consultants recommended that the western end of the Pialba park, which had no direct adjacent neighbours, was suitable for dog-friendly sites.
At Burrum Heads, the consultants recommended that dog-friendly sites be restricted to the southern section of the Park, particularly those adjacent to the supermarket and vehicle service lane.
The report recommended against dogs at the Scarness and Torquay parks because they are in areas where there is greater public activity which increased potential for dogs to bark.
The funding for the staged implementation of the master plan works on all four Council caravan parks is spread over the next five years:
- 2020/21: $1.3m;
- 2021/22: $4.2m;
- 2022/23: $1m;
- 2023/24: $8m, and;
2024/25: $2.5m.