Peter Knowles, Kim Knowles plan Monkland caravan park

The former Coles employee found himself at a loose end after being made redundant in 2021. See what he hopes to do:

A Monkland couple has lodged an application to build a caravan park on a vacant block near Gympie.

Karabee bus driver Peter Knowles and cleaning business owner Kim Knowles submitted the application to convert the almost 1ha on Old Imbil Rd, to Gympie Regional Council on June 20, 2022.

A copy of the development application is not yet publicly available, but Mr Knowles said the park would include 12 large sites to accommodate bigger caravans and buses.

“Our feasibility study has shown that there is a need for this; from tourism, visiting family, breakdowns and a lot more,” he said.

The “self contained” park would operate under a “leave no trace” policy, and each site would be divided by garden beds and native trees, as well as 50 fruit trees and palms.

“We have also identified that people like a secure area that they can leave their vans and RVs, (which is) why there will be a remote and PIN coded gate entry,” Mr Knowles said.

Cleaning business owner Kim Knowles and Karabee bus driver Peter Knowles have lodged an application with Gympie Regional Council to develop a two-acre site on Old Imbil Rd, Monkland. Photo: Supplied

The site is near the Gympie Duck Ponds (Lake Alford), where markets are held every first, third and fifth Sunday of the month.

The application comes as a former caravan park in Gympie was announced as a new hub for displaced families and homeless residents.

But Mr Knowles said this was not on the cards for the Monkland development.

“At present due to flooding of the site we have decided to be self contained only (and) not to have a shower and toilet block, which doesn’t allow us to have long stays,” he said.

He said he “dreamt up” the idea for the park after losing his job of more than three decades as a Coles meat manager in July 2021.

The application is yet to be approved by council.