A plan by the City of Bunbury will soon lead to the creation of new tourism opportunities.
Staff members recently prepared a management plan for a two-year trial of overnight rest areas at Wyalup Rocky Point, Ocean Drive and Scott Street, and Maidens Reserve for RV and caravan travellers.
An executive recommendation, presented on Tuesday, October 23, called for the council to consider all submissions regarding the proposed trial.
It called for the council to approve the two-year trial, set to commence on November 1.
It also asked for chief executive officer Mal Osborne to monitor and modify the trial over the next two years.
At the council meeting on October 30, councillor Michelle Steck spoke out against the trial.
She said the former Punchbowl Caravan Park Site should be utilised to help draw more tourists to Bunbury.
Council voted to approve the recommendation and begin the trial.
“There are controls that will be in place, it’s not made so that everybody can go and camp there. They’ll have to have a fully self-contained van,” City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said.
“Two years is a reasonable period considering some travellers are seasonal travellers.”
Mr Brennan acknowledged the concerns raised regarding security, but was confident the three rest areas would remain safe.
“The trial will assist us,” he said.
“Maidens Reserve is a protected picnic area. The other two are more exposed and very close to the CBD.
“I don’t see any issues with crime, but the benefit of doing a trial is that if there are issues we’ll know about them.”
Of the 35 submissions provided to the city by community members, 20 supported the proposal, 11 were against the idea, and four were neutral.
Issues raised during the submission phase included the potential impact on rate payers and local caravan parks.
“I understand the concerns, we’re dealing with a fine demographic here,” he said.
“These are people that have the ability to fund these big, self-contained vans.
“If they wish to stay in Bunbury for more than two nights they will have to book into a caravan park.”
Mr Brennan revealed the council would soon look into a report on caravan park resources within the Koombana area.
“If that all goes to plan, we’ll be looking at several millions of dollars going into those parks,” he said.
Read more:
