Confused campers as park ground locked up
Not a drop of rain but ‘flood risk’ shuts newly revamped $2.4 million Greenpatch facility
THE wisdom of spending $2.4 million to upgrade a camping ground only to lock the gates for six months every year has been called into serious question at Gordonvale.
Confused campers and picnickers are being confronted by padlocks and lowered gates when they arrive at the Greenpatch camping ground beside the Mulgrave River.
The facility has just undergone an expensive transformation to create 42 formal campsites, a new amenities block with toilets and showers, dump point and day-use facilities such as picnic spots.
However it will be locked from November until May each year due to the risk of flooding – even when there has been barely a drop of rain in months.
“This is for the safety of users,” a Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said.
“The campground is on the Mulgrave River flood plain and therefore can be inundated during the wet season.
“Records from the Bureau of Meteorology show the area flooded 14 times in the 17 years to 2017.
“There was also flooding last year.
“Closing the campground includes disconnecting power, gas and the pump station, which impacts the toilet and shower amenities and dump points, to protect infrastructure.
“This is not a quick process.”
Redlynch resident Carmel McArthur had a shocking run trying to find somewhere to lay her picnic blanket yesterday.
Her first stop was Ross and Locke – the once popular swimming spot at Little Mulgrave that has dwindled in popularity in recent years due to crocodiles.
“It was disgusting,” she said. “There were burnt out cars and rubbish everywhere – it just looked like somewhere people went to drink.”
Her next attempt was Goldsborough Valley, but roads that used to exist appeared to have disappeared.
Greenpatch was her final effort – but it was locked up when she arrived.
“We only want to have a picnic but the gates are locked and I think we’re still a fair way from the water,” she said.
“All we wanted was a nice shady spot next to some water with no crocodiles.
“It’s not really a big call – we live in the tropics for goodness sake.”
Ms McArthur planned to have one final stab at a picnic near the Mountain View Hotel.
Otherwise, it was back home for nibblies by the pool.
Picnickers can still use the park if they do not mind a walk, but the toilet block will remain shut until May.
“In the unlikely event of significant rain outside the shutdown, an early warning siren system has been installed alerting users of the need to evacuate,” the council spokeswoman said.
WE ONLY WANT TO HAVE A PICNIC BUT THE GATES ARE LOCKED AND I THINK WE’RE STILL A FAIR WAY FROM THE WATER. ALL WE WANTED WAS A NICE SHADY SPOT NEXT TO SOME WATER ... RESIDENT CARMEL MCARTHUR
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