FULL STEAM AHEAD AT AGNES

The blue waters of the South Pacific lap the golden sands adjoining Agnes Water's new caravan park

Ocean-front caravan park will inject new life into town

AN army of tradesmen is working flat out to have a new caravan park at a popular Queensland seaside town open in time for the festive season.

The site of the old Agnes Water Caravan Park next to the town's picturesque surfing beach has been bought by the Brisbane-based 1770 Group.

Caravanners have been avoiding Agnes Water since the local caravan park was bulldozed five years ago after falling into the hands of developers who wanted the prime oceanfront land for a plush multi-million dollar resort.

But not a brick was laid, resulting in howls of protest from local businesses who claimed they were losing millions of dollars from lost tourism.

They claimed grey nomads and other travellers who once packed the small town were forced to travel to other areas to find somewhere to stay with their caravans and motorhomes, taking their much needed tourist dollars with them.

One shopkeeper told Caravanning News that after the caravan park closed, visitor numbers plunged and many businesses struggled to survive.

"We were so happy when we heard work had now started on a new caravan park ... we can't wait for it to open because it will inject new life back into Agnes Water," she said.

Director Tosh Murphy told us that the 1770 Group had been trying to buy the land for 30 years and was "delighted" to be re-establishing the town's caravan park after five years of stagnation at the original site.

"I was told by the local motel operator that 50,000 people passed through the former park every year, so it was a bombshell when it closed and an enormous blow to the local economy," he said.

Mr Murphy said there had been a positive response to the new park, which would definitely be open for the beginning of the Christmas holidays.

The new park will offer 49 caravan sites, 13 tent sites and amenities block. Thirteen beachfront cabins could also be finished before the holiday period.

Newly laid slabs await the final touches and landscaping at the new Agnes Water caravan park

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