Gympie council plans to double caravan limit on private land

Gympie region landowners will be able to boost their income by operating ‘mini tourist parks’ on their properties after the council agreed to relax limits on the number of caravans and tents allowed.

Mayor Glen Hartwig and Gympie councillors have agreed to double the number of caravans allowed on private land without triggering the need for a development application under proposed changes to the planning scheme.

Landowners are a step closer to being able to host tourists, with the Gympie Regional Council agreeing to double the number of caravans or tents allowed on private blocks under proposed changes to the planning scheme.

The council has agreed to double the number of caravans, tents or cabins allowed on a 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.

The number of guests allowed will be capped at 48, or six per caravan. There was previously no limit.

The changes were passed following a 30-minute debate in which councillor Bob Fredman raised concerns about the impact on neighbours and the environment.

It was crucial the council ensure those running these mini tourist parks abide by the rules, given they were “popping up everywhere all over Mary Valley”, and leading to complaints about “what’s coming down the river from a neighbour”.

“I believe there should be some sort of application process so people understand and know what their obligations are,” Mr Fredman said.

Councillor Bob Fredman pushed for the council to ensure campers would be aware of their obligations to protect the environment, like not bathing with soap in Yabba Creek.

“I know they own the land so they’ve got certain rights to do many things … but the neighbours also have some rights.

“Unfortunately, what we’ve seen in the (Mary) Valley is a number of cases of people disregarding neighbours rights.”

“Eight vans is a lot of effluent, a lot of noise.”

Mr Fredman said there were concerns about the impact on the environment too, given campers were doing things like using soap while bathing in Yabba Creek.

Director Adrian Burns said noise complaints about these sites would mostly be handled by the council.

“That growth in the number of vans, we don’t believe it’s going to make a significant difference,” Mr Burns said.

He said the change was part of an attempt to drive more people to the region and allow landowners to earn money from their land in other ways.

The proposal was passed unanimously following an amendment to assuage Mr Fredman’s concerns.

The changes will now be forwarded to the State Government who will decide whether to send it for a State interest review.

The State will provide feedback to the council, which will still have the option of putting the planning changes up for public review before making them official.

Originally published as Gympie council plans to double caravan limit on private land