State Government wants to sell Traveston Crossing camp grounds

The State Government wants to offload this beloved Gympie region swimming and camping playground, but taking it over might need a million dollar sweetener to meet the cost of fixing up the mess there, the council heard.

One of the Mary Valley’s most popular and beautiful camping spots could be locked off to the public forever.

The State Government is looking to offload the popular Mary River swimming hole near the intersection of Traveston Crossing and Dobson Rd, and has asked Gympie Regional Council if it wants to buy the block.

But the council said it would only be worth it if the state threw some significant money into the deal.

The land was bought by the State Government for $1.2 million in 2007.

It was the home of the now defunct Mary Valley Research Facility, but became a hugely popular camping spot.

In August 2021, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries decided to fence the block off owing to continued environmental destruction from people driving their 4WDs down to and into the river.

“They are experiencing significant issues with unauthorised four-wheel drive access and access into the river,” sustainability director Adrian Burns told councillors on Wednesday morning.

The State Government has asked the Gympie council if it wants to buy the land it owns at Travestion Crossing, a popular swimming spot.

Mr Burns said local landowners were “particularly” suffering from the illegal use.

“There are three main land owners around Traveston Crossing,” he said.

“All three of them have people driving across the river or along down to their property.

“They then camp on their property.”

Mr Burns said this behaviour had left one of the landowners unable to swim in the river, despite it being on their own property.

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“The last thing you want is four wheel drivers driving up on to your lawn but that’s what happens.

“They drive across the river and then drive as far as they can, up onto the lawn of his property.

“It’s fairly intrusive.”

The State has chosen to begin fencing Traveston Crossing off to the public due to ongoing destruction caused by illegal 4WD users.

Cr Bob Fredman said one group had reportedly been camping there for about six months.

The site is recognised as a nesting spot for Mary River turtles.

However, councillors’ response to the state’s proposal was tepid as best.

Cr Fredman said the state’s offer would only be viable if it came with a large amount of cash to help them revitalise it.

“It would be good for the council to take up this offer with one caveat: it comes with $1 million cash,” Mr Fredman said.

This was needed to “properly develop and manage the site.”

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful site,” he said.

Councillor Bob Fredman says Traveston Crossing would be great to take over, but the State needed to throw in about $1 million so the council could afford to rehabilitate the site.

“It’s one of the best sites in the region to go to.”

Mr Burns said unfortunately the State Government expected the council to pay it, not vice versa.

“It is a beautiful site, but without significant sums of money you would not entertain it,” Mr Burns said.

“It would take an awful lot of money to rehabilitate that site.”

The council would be taking on a huge liability and risk were it to buy the land.

Mayor Glen Hartwig said Cr Fredman’s suggestion to get significant funding as part of the deal and make it open to the public was “a far better outcome than putting a whole lot of bollards at the front with a key access and a gate”.

The risk and liability in taking it over remained a major sticking point, though, and the State may ultimately find another buyer.

“There may be other government agencies or private owners that might be better suited to that sort of responsibility,” Mr Hartwig said.