Interest sought for Glen Cromie park

Expressions of interest will be sought from people interested in leasing the Glen Cromie caravan park.

But a priority for the new lease will be providing improved facilities for users of the park and a stronger rental return to Baw Baw Shire.

Council will begin a public expression of interest campaign for a new lease period and also will engage a consultant to determine a capital works program to be included as part of the new lease.

Council received a report from officers outlining future options for the park including selling the park; returning it to open space; or leasing the park through a public expression of interest process.

If council sold the land, officers said a restrictive covenant could be placed on the title to ensure its continued operation as a caravan park.

Officers said the current lease was considerably “under market” but future rental was estimated to be about $50,000 a year with the inclusion of a capital works program.

If it was returned to public open space, ongoing costs to council would be about $50,000 each year.

A report to council said Glen Cromie was established in 1890, making it one of the oldest caravan parks in Australia.

As well as being a caravan park, Glen Cromie is also a popular day visitor area for picnics and family reunions and is highly valued among the local community.

The park was managed by a community group and council until 1999 when tenders were called for management under a retail land lease. The successful tenderer was Kimfam Pty Ltd trading as Caravan Parks Victoria.

In November 2007 Kimfam Pty Ltd sold the lease to C. and K. Azzopardi who remain the current lessee. The lease is due to end in August 2020.

Officers said the lease rental was 10 per cent of the total income from site rentals and visitor fees to be paid to council each year and in addition 15 per cent of income must be spent on capital upgrades. Currently there is one permanent resident, about 40 annual residents and day trip visitors and campers.

Cr Keith Cook said the caravan park was a beautiful place set on 16 hectares with a river running through the park.

“It’s known as the people’s caravan park…most of their customers come from no more than 45 kilometres away.

Cr Cooke said the park was booked out for the Melbourne Cup long weekend.

He said up to 300 people could camp there but there were only eight women’s toilets and five men’s toilets.

“There is an opportunity to maintain this gem. We can call for a new lease and get a better return for the community. We look forward to seeing a good response to this expression of interest process,” he said.

Cr Tricia Jones said Glen Cromie was one of the few caravan parks that has a traditional Aussie swimming hole.

Cr Michael Leaney said Glen Cromie was an important part of the tourism mix in Baw Baw.

He said the previous lease was fairly broadbrush so in the past 20 years it hadn’t performed to its best ability.

“This is an opportunity to revitalise the site and make it a very positive tourism asset and take it to the next level,” he said.