$10.5 million contract to upgrade Pialba Caravan Park awarded

As a $10.5 million upgrade is awarded for the upgrade of one Fraser Coast caravan park, the future of another remains uncertain. LATEST.

Pialba Caravan Park.

The future of Torquay Caravan Beachfront Caravan Park remains up in the air while the council on Wednesday awarded a $10.5 million contract to upgrade Pialba Caravan Park.

The future of the Torquay park has been the subject of heated debate within the council in recent months.

Work was paused on the $22m worth of revamps at the Pialba and Torquay caravan parks in October in favour of a consultation process where councillors and the community were asked to look at new possibilities.

The council will now develop concept plans at a cost of up to $50,000 for the Torquay site before seeking community feedback on its future.

Business and community leaders are expected to turn out to a packed meeting about the future of the Torquay site at Blazing Saddles next Monday evening.

At its February meeting the council decided the redevelopment of the Pialba park would continue, but rejected an alternate motion from Councillor Paul Truscott, which suggested the council forego further community consultation on the issue, citing the overwhelming public support for keeping both the Pialba and Torquay caravan parks open.

During the debate, remarks from two of the councillors opposed to Mr Truscott’s motion became personal, with councillor Zane O’Keefe and councillor Lachlan Cosgrove both warned by Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour in regard to their remarks.

Pialba Caravan Park.

At its meeting on Wednesday, the Fraser Coast Regional Council awarded a $10.5 million contract to Rejuvenate Group Pty Ltd to deliver the project, which will be completed in stages to allow parts of the park to remain open during construction.

The upgrade will include replacing underground services, improving internal roads and landscaping, building a new camp kitchen and barbecue area, installing new toilet and shower facilities, and creating a new recreation zone.

In a council press release on Wednesday, Mr Cosgrove said the works would bring the park up to modern standards and better meet the needs of today’s travellers.

“The current infrastructure is ageing and wasn’t designed for today’s larger caravans and RVS,” he said.

“The upgrade is about making the park more functional, comfortable and enjoyable for visitors while maintaining its relaxed coastal feel.”

Rejuvenate Group was selected as the preferred contractor following a competitive tender process and had previously delivered similar upgrades at the Scarness and Burrum Heads caravan parks.

Bookings for the Stage 1 upgrade area have been paused from July 31 to allow site access for the contractor and works to get underway.

Construction is expected to run for about 18 months, weather permitting.

For more information and project updates, click here.

Public consultation on the future of the Torquay caravan park is set to begin in the near future.

Originally published as $10.5 million contract to upgrade Pialba Caravan Park awarded