Torquay caravan park closures a ‘bad idea’ say Esplanade businesses

Businesses on the Esplanade in Torquay have labelled the potential closure of two iconic caravan parks a “bad idea” after the Fraser Coast Regional Council suspended work on them in a motion last week.

Torquay business owners have weighed in on the council’s decision to pause $22 million worth of revamps to the Pialba and Torquay caravan parks, with a general view that change to these iconic locations would be bad for business. Councillors Lachlan Cosgrove and Zane O’Keefe, who tabled the motion to the council, were contacted for comment.

Torquay business owners have weighed in on the council’s decision to pause $22 million worth of revamps to the Pialba and Torquay caravan parks, with a general view that change to these iconic locations would be bad for business.

The upgrades to both sites have been temporarily suspended as the Fraser Coast Regional Council devises “revised options” to be put to residents and business owners at a later date.

Mark and Sandra, who operate Ned’s by the Bay, believe a change to the status of the caravan parks would allow the council to move on with plans to attract further high rise development in the area.

“It’s just something that adds on to the Sheraton,” said Mark.

“Why do we need that (caravan park) to be cleared?

“It’s so we can put another highrise on this (shop) side of the street.

“It’ll be ‘Hervey Bay high rise’”.

Mark and Sandra own and operate Ned's by the Bay, and believe a change to the status of the Torquay caravan park would "majorly affect" their business.

Mark also noted the amount of people that use the park and the history that comes with generations of families congregating on holidays.

“We see the same people come back every year,” he said.

“They supply us with money, but it’s not about that.

“It’s about what they want to do with Hervey Bay.

“Hervey Bay is not the Sunshine Coast.

“In 20 years time, will people want to visit a place with more high rises?”

Mark and Nat Albert of The Torq Hervey Bay share the same sentiment as Mark and Sandra.

“We believe (removing the caravan parks) is a bad idea,” Mr Albert said.

“This area was built on these caravan parks.”

Mark and Nat Albert of The Torq Hervey Bay believe replacing the caravan parks is a “bad idea”.

The Alberts also worry how a caravan park shutdown could affect their bottom line.

“It’ll shorten us up in the busy months,” Mrs Albert said.

“There are four generations of families that holiday there.

“If you can’t have budget holidays, families won’t come.”

The Torquay (pictured) and Pialba Beachfront Tourist Parks may be scrapped by the council in order to "unlock" commercial spaces for public use.

Some business people believe if a change is coming to the area, it should be tourism and consumer-friendly.

Jay Hadmayn of Ricardo's Italiano and Seafood suggested an attraction for tourists could work in the vacant space.

“I’d prefer the caravan park to stay, but if they were to remove it for something, they would need to implement something that could generate more income for tourism,” he said.

“Currently, the caravan parks bring in a fair bit of economic value to our business.”

Mr Hadmayn believes a wave pool or another modern attraction could bring visitors to the area during peak times.

Jay Hadmayn of Ricardo's Italiano and Seafood believes, if the council were to move on from a caravan park, a wave pool would create some excitement within the area.

One of the potential park replacements discussed in the early phase of negotiations was a man-made lagoon, similar to those on the esplanade in Townsville, Airlie Beach and Cairns.

“If the council want more open space for more parkland, knock all the trees down,” Mr Hadmayn said.

“We’ve got to be the only Esplanade in the world where you drive along and can’t see the ocean.”

Division 3 Fraser Coast councillor and Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott said he would like to see “good community consultation” on the matter.

“I supported the motion for the following reasons,” he said.

“I believe we should stop spending money on the current progress because I believe it’s quite expensive and there should be cheaper alternatives investigated, if upgrades are required at all.

“I believe the public should have a say on this because this is part of Hervey Bay’s identity, and before lots of money is or is not spent on the caravan parks and locked up a public space for decades, the public should have their opinion heard.

“I want to see good community consultation on this, and it needs to be more than just do you want to keep the parks or not?

“It should include greater detail and provide multiple options and include information such as how much money council currently makes from the parks, weighing up pros and cons, what potential future costs might arise and what other considerations might need to be considered such as potential for native title and the potential costs and anything else that might be involved.”

Councillors Lachlan Cosgrove and Zane O’Keefe, who tabled the motion to the council, were contacted for comment.

Torquay business owners have weighed in on the council’s decision to pause $22 million worth of revamps to the Pialba and Torquay caravan parks, with a general view that change to these iconic locations would be bad for business. Councillors Lachlan Cosgrove and Zane O’Keefe, who tabled the motion to the council, were contacted for comment.