Aspen Group lodges plans for new tourist, workers accommodation in Crest housing estate at Woodside
It might look like a building site and massive hole in the ground right now, but this forthcoming Hills housing estate could also be a holiday spot.
Adelaide Hills
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The site of a former detention centre would be converted for tourist and residential use under bold plans proposed by a prominent holiday park operator.
Adelaide Caravan Park owner The Aspen Group has lodged plans with the Adelaide Hills Council to build tourist and worker accommodation within the newly established housing estate Crest at Woodside.
The proposal includes 10 holiday and 75 residential cabins – the latter of which are to be used as worker accommodation.
A reception and community building would also be included on the 3ha site on Nairne Rd.
The site previously formed part of a federal government-run detention facility that housed around 400 asylum seekers between 2010 and 2014.
Project co-ordinator Patrick Maddern said while the proposal did not consider caravan sites, there were options to expand tourist use of the park should the need arise.
“We believe there is a shortage of residential housing and short-stay accommodation for tourists and seasonal farmworkers in the Hills region and that this development will help meet this demand,” he said.
“So initially we’ll start with 10 tourist cabins but, in the event that’s going really strong, we can convert more of the other cabins by going to the council saying, we’re 100 per cent occupied and want to make it 20 or 30 tourist cabins.
“But what would be, as an operator, be a very bad move would be to start at a very high number and try to go back, which is much more difficult as it would restrict how long a person could stay there (if classified as a tourist cabin).”
Mr Maddern said he hoped construction could begin early next year with the worker accommodation to be a particular drawcard for local pickers.
He said the cabins would also provide accommodation for prospective workers at Terramin’s Bird in Hand gold mine and as crisis accommodation for residents impacted by future bushfires.
“We wouldn’t be dictating who lives there but we will be working closely with local wineries and local producers to let them know we have this facility,” he said.
“The park may also be appealing to people working on infrastructure projects who feel that commuting to and from Adelaide doesn't make sense if they are here for three months.
“It may even be appealing to people who may face things such as a marital breakdown and need somewhere to stay, people moving to the area looking for somewhere to rent or buy or even people who lost their home after a bushfire.
“The demand for accommodation currently outstrips supply in the Adelaide Hills … so we are hoping to help alleviate some of this demand as best as we can.”
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