By Dennis Amor
Have
your say
A SMALL West Australian town is planning a new caravan park ... and
travellers will be able to stay free for up to a week.
Councillors gave the thumbs up to the proposed park on a 2.3ha site at Arrino, on the Midland Road about 300km north of Perth, to cater for grey
nomads who flock to the area during the Spring wildflower season.
Two councillors – David Ashcroft and Richard Thorpe – were not allowed to
vote when the plan was discussed at a council meeting.
Three Springs Regional Council acting chief executive officer Chris
Jackson explained that the shire had once owned the Three Springs Caravan
Park, which it sold to Richard Thorpe.
He had since closed the facility to make way for a motel-type development
using mine site transportable units for accommodation, Mr Jackson told
Caravanning News.
|
"We are
keeping electricity out of it" |
Three Springs is the largest producer of talc in Australia and boasts the
largest talc mine in the southern hemisphere.
David Ashcroft runs a local bed and breakfast business which does not
cater for caravans.
"Three Springs does not currently have a caravan park but council is
moving to rectify this situation with the establishment of the new eco
caravan park to cater for the many visitors we get each year," Mr
Jackson said.
Council environmental health officer Trevor Brandy, who is managing the
project, told us that $30,000 had been allocated for the new eco park,
which would have simple unisex/disabled toilet facilities and a dump
point.
There would be no powered sites and free stays for a week would be
allowed.
"We are keeping electricity out of it. If we put in power points it would
mean having to charge travellers," he said.
The facility would be able to accommodate up to 12 caravans.
Asked when it would be opened, Mr Brandy said: "Unfortunately we will miss
out of this tourist season mainly because the Department of Lands has been
dragging its feet a little. But it will be up and running for the next
one."
A council report said: "Discussions with various personnel involved in the
caravan park industry have indicated the need to keep the development on a
small scale, which is what caravanners want.
"To advertise the facility as a free park in their local magazine would
also be a good selling point."
