Tourists skip town as Orford’s Nomad Park camping site is closed

THE seaside town of ­Orford is without facilities for travellers with caravans and other mobile homes.

Bill Kyle at his Orford camping ground. Picture: Luke Bowden

ALMOST eight years after popular East Coast camping ground Raspins Beach was closed, the seaside town of ­Orford still does not have any facilities for travellers with caravans and other mobile homes.

Trying to help fill a gap in the market, local Bill Kyle opened the vacant land alongside his property to ­passing travellers.

Self-contained visitors could stay on the land, which became known as Nomad Park, for a small donation to cover public liability.

But after several months of operation, the popular spot was shut down last week by council after receiving a complaint from a nearby resident.

“It’s a shame because there are a lot of disappointed people around,” Mr Kyle said.

“I still have people ringing me wanting to stay.”

Mr Kyle cannot apply for a ­camping ground ­permit under the current planning scheme, as his land is not zoned for that purpose.

“The way the laws are now is ridiculous because it’s killing tourism,” he said.

“They’re cutting their own throats. For those who want to help the community there’s just too much red tape. The council and Government are just hamstringing everybody from having a go.”

Mr Kyle has owned the ­Orford property for more than a decade and plans to retire there and manage a caravan park on the site as soon as he can get permission.

Manager of the Orford IGA store Scott Sinclair said Nomad Park had been very popular among tourists and residents alike.

“Instead of closing him down, the council should be trying to help him as much as it can,” he said. “They have to do something because things are pretty quiet on the East Coast as it is. Everyone is bypassing Orford now.”

Glamorgan Spring Bay Council regulatory services manager Winny Enniss said under the new planning scheme, which is expected to be implemented within the next 12 months, there will be an allowance for a camping ground as a discretionary use in a rural zone.

Mr Kyle said he had no choice but to wait for the new planning scheme before ap­plying to reopen Nomad Park.

“This certainly hasn’t put me off, it’s made me more determined,” he said.