Scarness Caravan Park to be upgraded in stages

A section of the Scarness Caravan Park will reopen for self-contained caravans and RVs by September with guests offered discounted fees as part of a Fraser Coast Regional Council plan to progressively upgrade the site over the next 18 months.

Councillor David Lee said the caravan park was partially closed due to COVID-19 restrictions in late March and then was completely closed in June after testing identified the need to replace underground electrical cabling throughout the entire site.

“Council had already begun master planning for the four beachfront tourist caravan parks we own, and has now decided to fast track the process for the Scarness Caravan Park,” he said.

“A works plan has been developed to minimise the impact on businesses and park guests, and ensure parts of the park can open for self-contained caravans and RVs as soon as possible.

“Under the first stage, the western and middle sections of the park will remain closed while the above ground facilities are demolished and underground services replaced, with temporary fencing being erected in coming days.

“In the eastern section, work will start on removing the powerheads, but all roads and slabs will remain in place, the dump point will remain open, solar lighting will be installed and potable water will be available.

“This will allow the eastern section to be opened by September as a self-contained caravan and RV site for about 40 campers.

“As work progresses through the middle and western sections, a further 20 to 60 self-contained caravan and RV sites will open. This will be a greenfield area as all power, roads, slabs and underground infrastructure will have been removed.

“This means between 60 and 100 self-contained caravan and RV sites will be open for the Christmas holiday period, with all on site works ceasing from mid-December to mid-January.”

Cr Lee said the next stage would be the construction of a newly designed, fully serviced caravan park in the western and middle sections of the site, which will occur over about five to six months in 2021, pending approvals.

Construction work in the eastern section of the caravan park will be done in the last stage.

“During the construction period, fees for self-contained caravan and RV campers will be half the current rates for unpowered sites with an adjustment made for any waterfront sites,” Cr Lee said.

“We apologise for the inconvenience to businesses and guests while the work is carried out, but the end result will be a safer, more modern caravan park catering for the needs of today’s tourists.”

Visit Councils project page to view the project information.