Gloucester caravan park investigation ‘not good use of public money’ – Councillor

UNCERTAINTY continues to swirl around the future of the Gloucester caravan park, known as Gloucester Holiday Park.

On 28 October, NOTA reported that MidCoast Council was proposing to set aside up to $500,000 to fully and comprehensively investigate the future of the dilapidated park.

“The investigations will help council to better understand the risks, its responsibilities and the options available before any future direction is considered,” the council’s Director of Corporate Services, Paul De Szell, said at the time.

“This work is about building a clear and evidence-based understanding of the park. It is not a decision to redevelop or close the park.”

The proposal was accepted at the council meeting on 28 October.

Now the three Libertarian Party councillors, Graham, Beazley and McKenzie, have filed a motion to rescind that decision.

However, only one of the three responded to NOTA’s questions as to why they were seeking to rescind the plan to investigate the caravan park, and what they saw as its future.

Councillor McKenzie responded, saying: “I filed the motion, as spending $500,000 on a report to improve a dead red herring that council was bequeathed in amalgamation nine-odd years ago is not good use of public money.

“Relocation of the park out of the riverbed, flood zone and bushfire zone would be a better use of public money.”

All reasons and intentions should become clearer when the trio’s motion is debated at the next Council meeting on Wednesday 18 November.

Gloucester residents for or against the motion are eligible to address councillors and staff through the Public Forum scheduled for 10am on the morning of the council meeting.

The debate comes amid growing interest in the park’s tourism potential, infrastructure and compliance requirements, and the future for the permanent residents who rely on it for affordable accommodation.

By John WATTS