Murwillumbah should start seeing a lot more recreational vehicles (RV) in town after Tweed Shire Council’s recent approval of a development application for RV-friendly campsites at the showground.
The Murwillumbah Showground Trust’s plan for a ‘primitive camping ground’ could see the showground accommodate around 26 RVs at any one time.
The use of RVs by ‘Grey Nomads’ (retirees travelling around Australia) is on the rise and similar set-ups at showgrounds or other council areas on the northern rivers have sprung up as a result.
Tweed council’s general manager Troy Green said it was planned to establish another RV-suitable camping location in the short term, as council worked closely with tourism body Destination Tweed, the community and relevant industry groups to achieve that.
’Tweed Shire Council is very supportive of finding suitable alternative sites to seek to tap into the freedom camping market,’ Mr Green said.
‘Council has been consulting with local industry groups, the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia and community associations to get their feedback and input into suitable alternative sites, with an emphasis on finding sites in Tweed hinterland villages such as Burringbar, Uki and Tyalgum.’
The search follows lobbying from the RV community for safe and welcoming campsites in Tweed Shire for RVs.
Campers had previously been staying at Bruce Chick Park, on Tweed Valley Way at Stotts Island, even it was not a dedicated camping site.
But council recently adopted a new management plan for the park banning overnight camping because it threatened the environmental and heritage objectives of the park.
‘The new management plan follows extensive community consultation and investigation of the site conditions, environmental constraints and heritage of the area, including its original intended purpose as envisaged by Bruce Chick,’ Mr Green said.
‘While council was very keen to explore the potential of establishing an RV-friendly primitive camping facility at this site, it became evident through site investigations that such a use would unreasonably conflict with the environmental values of the site.
‘RV camping at the site would also require significant management, sewerage services and other facilities which would bring a considering ongoing cost to ratepayers.’
Mr Green said that providing an RV-suitable campsite at the showground had the added benefit of supporting a local community group ‘without incurring a cost to ratepayers to provide maintenance and management’.
‘The showground’s close proximity to town means local businesses are also likely to benefit,’ he said.
Tweed River Agricultural Society Secretary, Cynthia Hanger, said the primitive campsite would be a valuable asset for the district and immensely beneficial to the local business community.
good on you Tweed council. Good common sense.
rubbish bins in Uki overflow with garbage, as it is. Travellers are welcome, but a place to park is merely one aspect of the infrustructure required.
This article didn’t mention how the site was going to be managed for the campers; is there a fee? who will collect it? how will they restrict it to 26?? what the reaction was from local caravan parks??
This is a need across our great country as the number of RVs increases, and their occupants are loathe to pay for a camp site, or want to camp on the edge of town and have their cake and eat it too. I hope other shires are following suit as its a very good use of sports grounds/school grounds when they are vacant; and eases the misuse of picnic areas and parks in residential areas.
I have been living full time in my RV now for 3 years; I retired from the workforce in August 2015. I have a YouTube channel called Living Free In My RV. I am an environmentalist and believe strongly that we are observers so we should leave with no trace anywhere we camp. Most retires are responsible members of our communities . I recently toured Tasmania and found it surprisingly RV friendly. Lots of free or very low budget campsite, some with free power, dump points, and drinking water. I always enjoy spending money and stock up on supplies in RV friendly towns and always boycott towns that are not…
Kelvin Ring
My husband and I recently stayed at your showgrounds and were very impressed. The management were wonderful and very helpful in all aspects. The place was very clean and tidy.We couldn’t praise it enough and intend to suggest to anyone passing in or near that this is the place to stay especially as it is about 20K from the coast, the price is great and there is so much to see in the town and surrounding area. We hope to be back again some day when we are heading north