CARAVAN parks in a NSW town are up in arms over council plans to establish a new overnight rest area.

Forbes Shire Council wants to provide the facility, where travellers would not have a maximum stay limit, on land adjoining Wheogo Park to help attract travellers to the town, 384km west of Sydney.

But Country Club Caravan Park owner Derek Neville told Caravanning News local parks had "had enough".

"The shire is doing the dirty on us," he said. "We are just trying to earn a quid. The council is not a caravan park operator ... it's like another big business such as Bunnings coming into town and killing off the smaller ones."

Mr Neville's 21-site park is a member of the Family Parks of Australia chain.

Other parks in the town complained the proposal flew in the face of council claims that it supported local business.

"We have approached them but they have basically agreed to do nothing," one claimed.

The shire has already been advised by the Department of Lands to ban overnight stays at the popular Lions Park after complaints from the local community. The lakeside area, about 500m from the post office, receives the tick of approval in the Camps Australia Wide guide aimed at the budget traveller.

One caravan park operator told Caravanning News the area sometimes attracted up to 60 caravans, motorhomes and other RVs a night.

In a letter to the local media, the town's four caravan parks said they were in favour of a "stop, revive and survive" rest area but were opposed to free overnight and extended camping.

"Again we ask why is our council continuing to compete with our businesses when they are not a registered caravan park business operator," they wrote. "Council continues to say how they look after their local business owners. This is not looking after our businesses."

BACK TO CARAVANNING NEWS MAIN PAGE

SEND YOUR COMMENTS OR
STORY IDEAS TO
CARAVANNING NEWS