THERE'S a glimmer of good news for a Queensland region which has lost a high percentage of its caravan parks to developers.

Arial view of the property which could accommodate a new caravan park at Cape Hillsborough

Touring caravanners have expressed growing concern over the alarming number of privately-run parks being sold off to developers in the Sunshine State.

At least 30 have closed in the past six years and dozens more are reportedly under threat of redevelopers' excavators.

One of the worst regions affected has been around Mackay where travellers complain they sometimes have difficulty finding caravan and camping pitches.

But now there is the welcome news that a new caravan park could be opened on beachfront land in the picturesque Cape Hillborough area.

A local farmer has decided to sell off the prime site, which has approval for 90 powered sites and other facilities.

Mackay-based Queensland Tourism and Hospitality broker Ryan Doughty (pictured),

Mr Doughty: "great news"

 who is handling the sale, told Caravanning News there had been "quite a bit of interest" in the property.

"This is great news for caravanners and could prove a win-win situation for both developer and travellers," he said.

His company's advertising material describes the site as being 47 acres of flat usable land with 600m of beach frontage overlooking Sand Bay and with views to Cape Hillsborough National Park, Belmunda Bay and islands.

It has approval for an 18.5-acre caravan park, comprising 90 powered sites, 11 cabins, two amenity blocks, pool, community centre and owner's residence.

Sand Bay: Could be welcoming caravanners

Mr Doughty said that caravan-wise, Mackay had been under pressure for several years, with two parks already being sold off to developers and the five-acre Seawinds Caravan Park now on the market. The five-acre waterfront site has planning approval for 71 units.

"These were the only three beachfront caravan parks in Mackay," Mr Doughty said, predicting that other parks would come under pressure to sell in the next five to 10 years.

"What we are finding is that parks outside the urban sprawl are not under so much pressure but Cape Hillsborough is a destination in its own right and only 40 minutes from Mackay," he added.

Expressions of interest for the property close on March 11.

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