Bridport is set to be the latest Tasmanian town to have its own recreational vehicle park.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The proposed park, located on Parks and Wildlife Service-owned Crown Land, will be free of charge for patrons.
Parks and Wildlife recently ticked off on the project, and has allowed the council to conduct “reasonable clearing” of the parkland, according to a Parks spokesman.
However, the lease also includes restrictions to minimise dune erosion.
[RV parks] encourage people to stay longer if they don’t have to pay, and if they stay longer they’re more likely to spend money in the town.
- Dorset mayor Greg Howard
Dorset Council agreed to the conditions of the proposed lease on October 24.
Cr Howard said the park will greatly benefit the seaside town.
“Councillors who have toured on the mainland have said, ‘the towns with the free RV parks tend to be the ones that people stay the longest and are the most popular’,” he said.
“[RV parks] encourage people to stay longer if they don’t have to pay, and if they stay longer they’re more likely to spend money in the town.”
While Bridport already has one other caravan park, also owned by Dorset Council, Cr Howard believes the new RV park will not hamper current businesses.
He noted that the new RV park provides no facilities for patrons, unlike other forms of accommodation.
Dorset general manager Tim Watson said he hoped the park will be open for the tail-end of summer.
“We’ve written to Crown asking for consent to lodge a development application, which I believe will be forthcoming shortly,” he said.
“We’re hoping to open the RV park by the end of January.”
Any delays to the approval are with the council, not with the Parks Service
- Parks and Wildlife spokesman
The Parks and Wildlife Service’s approval of the park is a long time coming, according to Cr Howard.
He said some councillors had been “chasing” the project for almost two years.
“The park’s been 12 to 18 months in the making, and for a very simple decision [the length of time] is disappointing,” he said.
A Parks and Widlife spokesman said the council was to blame for any delays.
“Any delays to the approval are with the council, not with the Parks Service,” he said.
“[Dorset] Council altered the size of the area requested originally.
“[It] sought to occupy more area and clear more foreshore vegetation.
“Given recent public concerns around RV parks alienating public space, Parks had to reassess the proposal to ensure that the RV park would not alienate public land from people wanting to enjoy the beach.”
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
