New plan to develop RV park in Fannie Bay two years after last one booted
A new plan has emerged for an RV park in a notoriously nimby Darwin suburb. Read what it is
New plans have emerged for a recreational vehicle park in Fannie Bay.
Two years after community opposition sank a similar proposal from City of Darwin in the notoriously NIMBY suburb, an unrelated plan has been submitted with the Development Consent Authority.
The proposal would see the western half of the old Darwin Bowls and Social Club land at 8 Conacher Street redeveloped for potentially up to 40 RVs over time.
The application said the land had been leased by Darwin Bowls and Social Club since 1960, and had never been used, other than as a car park.
Club treasurer Barry Orr said development at the site would end a decades long, unwanted tradition.
“The club’s been mowing the grass for 60 years,” he said.
The application said Darwin Bowls and Social Club wanted to develop the western part of 8 Conacher Street for up to 40 vehicles, in line with the NT Planning Scheme 2020.
The submission points out while the planning scheme makes no mention of RVs, it does mention caravan parks.
Recreational vehicles are defined as having self-contained showers, toilets, washing machines with grey and black water retention tanks as well as potable water tanks for cooking, domestic use with solar panels and batteries to operate contained services.
The application said the site would have a 1.8m security fence with entrance and exit boom gates, with each site supported by a grassed, compacted earth pad.
All sites will be separated by landscaped screening with a three-metre buffer around the boundary for shade and privacy.
Sites will initially be unpowered, due in part to RVs having solar panel generation and battery storage, with a view to eventually electrifying into the future.
A dump point for the disposal of sewage from the vans will have in-built washdown facilities.
Landscaping will feature native plants to reduce water consumption.
The same team that has been responsible for mowing, tree trimming and landscaping over the past 60 years will caretake the proposed park.
City of Darwin’s 2023 plan proposed up to 20 RVs at a beachside site near Bundilla Beach, a couple of hundred metres from the existing site.
Within weeks of the announcement by Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis newly elected Fannie Bay MLA Brent Potter had more than 170 signatures from local residents opposing the plan.
The proposal eventually petered out during the expression of interest phase.
The application said the bowls club wanted to capitalise on City of Darwin upgrades made at Bundilla Beach over recent years.
The application said: “The direct income associated with operating the park for tourists will contribute to the financial viability of the Darwin Bowls and Social club and remove our reliance on financial grants from government.
“The increase in revenue will enable the club to employ more staff to manage, operate and maintain the RV park to an equivalent standard to that of the present Bowls Club operation.
“With up to 80 tourists per day staying in the Fannie Bay area there will be a beneficial increase in revenue to the adjacent clubs, restaurants, shops and the Museum.”
Submissions can be lodged until December 12.
Originally published as New plan to develop RV park in Fannie Bay two years after last one booted
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