Plans to build an RV park in Mossman have been rejected by Douglas Shire Council

A Far North mayor says the region will lose out after plans to build a dedicated RV Park were shelved, but the move has been applauded by park operators. HAVE YOUR SAY

DOUGLAS Shire Mayor Michael Kerr believes the region will lose out after plans to build an RV Park in Mossman were shelved this week.

A majority of councillors voted against the proposal at an ordinary council meeting on Tuesday, which was applauded by a number of Port Douglas caravan park operators.

Mayor Kerr believes the introduction of a dedicated motorhome base was a “no-brainer” and would not have taken business away from the 13 existing caravan parks in the shire.

Plans to build a dedicated RV park in Mossman have been rejected.

“It was selling a block of land to buy a block of land at the same value so it didn’t affect our balance sheet,” he said.

“It would have created an income for council by leasing it, they were going to do all the running of it and the expenses.

“So it was definitely something that was worth exploring but majority rules and the majority of councillors voted that it wasn’t beneficial to the community.”

Glengarry BIG4 Port Douglas Holiday Park manager Karlie Brady said the decision to introduce the park would have made life even tougher for her family run facility.

It comes after a survey, conducted by council in September, found five caravan park owners strongly objected to the move in Mossman, or anywhere in the region.

“To say RVs are not welcome here is unfair,” Ms Brady said.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr.

“There are 13 caravan parks and campgrounds in the shire whose job is literally to cater to RVs and caravans and they do actually visit the shire.

“We see RVs in our parks in big numbers every year. If you were to take away the RVs from caravan parks, you would severely hurt these local caravan park businesses who are already suffering during Covid.”

A total of 383 people responded to the survey with 94 per cent agreeing it would be beneficial for the Mossman economy.

Of the 72 businesses that took part, all but one agreed.

Mr Kerr said he could understand what some caravan park operators were saying “but every council I had spoken to, and according to the CMCA, caravan parks actually get busier.”

“With an RV Park you can only stay there for 72 hours maximum, so if you do want to stay longer you jump into a caravan park,” he said.

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Originally published as Plans to build an RV park in Mossman have been rejected by Douglas Shire Council