Fraser Coast council suspends redevelopment of Torquay, Pialba caravan parks

The future of two of Hervey Bay’s decades-old caravan parks is uncertain as the council votes to pause multimillion-dollar revamps and consider “alternate” uses. DETAILS.

The Torquay Beachfront Caravan Park has idyllic views.

The future of at least two of Hervey Bay’s beachfront caravan parks is uncertain amid momentum to “unlock” the council’s prime commercial spaces for public use.

Signalling a major shift following the March local election reshuffle, work will now be paused on $22million worth of revamps at the Pialba and Torquay caravan parks in favour of a consultation process where councillors and the community will be asked to look at new possibilities.

The motion, which passed in Wednesday’s council meeting at Maryborough, effectively opens the door for the Torquay Caravan Park to eventually be closed in favour of “alternate” uses (though this would still be put back to a vote after community consultation).

Proposed upgrades to the Torquay site are now “temporarily suspended” as they are at the Pialba park until “alternative, lower cost redevelopment opportunities” are considered there.

Plans for both parks have been referred back to council CEO Ken Diehm to “undertake further engagement with councillors”.

Because of the “recreational, economic” importance to the community, revised options are then expected to be put to the public for “widespread” consultation.

Beachfront Tourist Caravan Park redevelopment plan. Photo: Contributed.

The potentially esplanade-changing motion, which was tabled by Division 10 councillor Zane O’Keefe and seconded by Division 6 councillor Lachlan Cosgrove, received unanimous support from councillors in the room but for varying reasons.

Mr O’Keefe said the motion called for a “refocus” and showed the “clear intent to unlock parkland and alleviate congestion”.

“We need to create connected inclusive communities and spaces right along the Hervey Bay esplanade,” he said.

“Let’s get this done.”

Before making investments of $8million and $14million respectively on the two caravan park redevelopments, Mr Cosgrove wanted the council to look “very closely” at unlocking the land for “our residents to use as a premiere recreation spot”, pointing out that the unimpeded oceanfront views at the caravan parks were only on offer to people staying there and were not comparable to other public spaces which were blocked by trees etc.

Mayor George Seymour said he would support the motion but “with a bit of reservation and not enthusiastically as (the caravan parks) have been here for decades, are part of our heritage and brought people here who now live here”.

LOOKING BACK: The Pialba Caravan Park, in 1950 shows the mainly canvas tents and a few bondwood caravans. The insert shows the original 1930’s model with right hand door, the vans were first made by a Queensland resident who got the working plans from America, which is why they had the right-hand door.

He said the public already had access to acres of parkland and while he was “always keen for us to find ways to save more money” there would need to be “quite a conversation with the community” if a closure was proposed.

Councillor Denis Chapman in Division 8 said he was voting in favour because it was a “great way of putting it out to the community”.

However, he also said he was “quite disturbed” by a business-led “agenda” to close the Torquay Caravan Park and also, a proposal to build a water lagoon in its place.

“These caravan parks are making a million dollars or more for this community,” he said

“They are also making money for businesses bringing people into the area - I hope the community is quite clear on what they want for the Fraser Coast.”

Noting there “may be some different intent (among the fresh councillors) compared to five-year councillors”, Division 1 councillor Michelle Byrne was eager to hear from the community as was councillor Phil Truscott in Division 2 who said he still wanted to be “on the record” as not supporting the closure of the Torquay Caravan Park.

Councillor Sara Faraj in Division 9 had excused herself from the meeting due to a potential conflict of interest - that her fiance Ben Souvlis owns the Magnolia Caravan Park at Pialba - and did not take part in the vote.

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Originally published as Fraser Coast council suspends redevelopment of Torquay, Pialba caravan parks