Why small campgrounds are on the rise across Gympie

Rural landowners are cashing in on the lucrative regional tourism market by opening their land up with mini campgrounds to holiday-makers. See where the campsites are opening.

Gympie Council sustainability director Adrian Burns says there has been a post-Covid surge in interest in regional tourism, which is sparking an increase in development applications for small scale campgrounds.

New doors of tourism are being opened across the Gympie region on the back of a surge in mini festivals and renewed interest in regional holidays.

A new proposal to open a micro-tourist park at Tuchekoi is the latest such project to be pitched for the Gympie Regional Council area.

Developer Maud St Pty Ltd has asked for permission to install four glamping tents at a 12ha Peacons Pocket Rd property, about 25km southeast of Gympie.

The land is owned by Donna and Glenn Adams.

The Mary River cuts across its southern edge.

The tents would each be two bedrooms, and include a kitchen, bathroom, and veranda.

A growing number of regional landowners have asked for permission to open small scale campgrounds on their land, with the Mary Valley a popular choice.

The application is the latest in a series of small-scale rural camping proposals to be made with Gympie Regional Council in the past 18 months.

The Mary Valley has proven a popular choice with four new campground proposals made in the area since March 2022.

One is proposed near Kandanga, and the other is planned to open not far from the annual home of the Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival.

The other two have been approved: a four-campground park at Traveston, and a similar-sized park at Carters Ridge.

Campsite proposals have been made west of the city as well, with a 10-tent site bid under consideration at Widgee and a four-cabin park given the green light at Goomboorian.

Two other larger campsites have been pitched at Gunalda, including a 37-site park.

The applications come as the council works to tweak planning rules and open the door for small scale tourism across the region.

In late 2021 it proposed to double the number of caravans allowed on private property without a development application approval.

Under the changes the number of caravans, tents, or cabins allowed on a private block will be capped at eight.

These changes are awaiting state government approval.

Gympie council’s sustainability director Adrian Burns said the shift was being driven by the fallout from the pandemic.

Gympie council sustainability director Adrian Burns said the organisation was working to encourage more small scale tourism opportunities in the region. Photo: contributed.

“Covid has changed the model from travelling overseas to holiday to more inter and intra state holidays and with rising interest rates and less available discretionary spending travel has become less affordable leading to a desire for more localised breaks,” Mr Burns said.

The council was “not really concerned” about these small camping spots overstepping their bounds.

“There are a number of legislative instruments to control these activities including the Council Planning Scheme and Local Laws,” Mr Burns said.

“Mini festivals are allowed as a one off and controlled by local laws and the Environment Protection Act whereas if the site hosts more than one event it becomes development of the site and will need a land use approval under the Planning Act and GRC Planning Scheme.

“As an RV friendly region we are supportive of encouraging more tourists into the area as long as this is managed under current legislation to not have a negative impact on our resident communities.”