Plans for $10.1m caravan park in Lara submitted to Geelong Council

A group of business owners in Lara have submitted plans for a multimillion-dollar caravan park. SEE THE DESIGNS

Renders of a proposed caravan park at Forest Road in Lara. Picture: Supplied

A $10.1m caravan park in Lara which aims to fill a gap in the short stay accommodation sector is being put together by a group of local business owners.

Plans to develop land at 325 Forest Road North for a camping and caravan park were recently submitted for consideration to Geelong council.

Dean Hinch, along with other local business owners in the region, plan on building the caravan park at the site of the Lara Lodge which he owns.

Renders of a proposed caravan park at Forest Road in Lara. Picture: Supplied

“It’s filling a gap, this area is screaming out for short term accommodation,” Mr Hinch said.

“A caravan park needs to be somewhere in this area, because there is no caravan park from the Barwon River right into Werribee.”

According to council documents, the proposal seeks to deliver a strategically located, high-quality, family-oriented tourist accommodation experience, and meet a demonstrated demand for visitor accommodation in the region.

The proposed site is 3km away from the You Yangs Regional Park and sits just up the road from Serendip Sanctuary.

It would deliver “high-quality short term tourist accommodation in a rural environment”, according to the application.

Renders of a proposed caravan park at Forest Road in Lara. Picture: Supplied

The park, which would have a combined site area of 16.3ha. has been designed to cater for 118 individual accommodation sites and would comprise 56 cabins (with different bedroom and layout configurations), 48 caravan sites and 14 camping sites.

According to the town planning report the proposal demonstrates a high level of economic and community benefit which will positively impact the community in Lara, and the broader region, from a tourism perspective.

Dean and Alisa Hinch, with children Eric, 5, and Max, 7 and Brett Couzens and Louise Curtis on the proposed site of a caravan park in Lara at 325 Forest Road. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Hinch said if approved, Lara would greatly benefit economically from the development.

“Everyone is supportive, I haven’t heard from anyone who hasn’t been supportive in the community,” he said.

“We are not a big developing company, we are not an overseas company, we are just local Lara people trying to build something for Lara.”

Renders of a proposed caravan park at Forest Road in Lara. Picture: Supplied

Barry White, president of the Lara Care Group described the proposal as a “very important development”.

“It will allow people to stay in the region for longer instead of a day trip or half a day trip,” he said.

“It’s really important because it’s something that’s been missing for so long, and we’ve been arguing for quite a long time to have appropriate short term accommodation and RV accommodation, and that’s exactly what this proposal brings.”

Residents will have until September 26 to voice their objections and support.

Originally published as Plans for $10.1m caravan park in Lara submitted to Geelong Council