Strahan camp grows as doubts linger

THE Macquarie Heads Campground at Strahan is set to be expanded but there is still a cloud hanging over the future of long-term permit holders.

The West Coast Council has decided to borrow $350,000 to expand the campground.

It comes after almost a year of angst between the council and the almost 100 site holders who fear they will lose access to their long-established idylls.

The campground is a nice little earner for the council, which leases the site from Crown Land Services for a peppercorn rent and collects more than $140,000 in annual permit fees.

At a meeting on Monday night, the council decided to enter into a new Head Lease agreement being offered by the Crown and go ahead with a development application for the campground’s expansion once the entire development is secured. Long-term site holders are set to learn their fate by the end of June.

“Council will be presented with a report before the end of the financial year with a draft of proposed arrangements for permits for both existing and potential licence holders,” Mayor Phil Vickers said.

Mayor Vickers said the council would also be working on a draft proposed agreement between the State Government and council for the operations of a separate day camping area.

The council has budgeted to borrow up to $350,000 for the expansion project with a State Government grant of $200,000 also committed.

A new full-time Macquarie Heads Campground caretaker will start work on April 12.

Some people have camped for 30 years or more under a system where site permits were renewed every three years and long-term spots almost guaranteed. But they now fear a new ballot system will force them to give up their homes away from home or be forced to relocate every 12 months.

Annual permit fees are also expected to rise.