Council rejects RV park

DOUGLAS Shire Mayor Michael Kerr believes the region will lose out after plans to build an RV Park in Mossman were shelved this week.

A majority voted against the proposal at an ordinary council meeting on Tuesday, a decision that was applauded by a number of Port Douglas

caravan park operators.

Cr Kerr said he believed the introduction of a dedicated motorhome base was a “nobrainer” and would not have taken business from the shire’s 13 existing caravan parks.

“Every council I had spoken to, and according to the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, caravan parks actually get busier,” he said.

“It was selling a block of land to buy a block of land at the same value, so it didn’t affect our balance sheet.

“It would have created an income for council by leasing it, they were going to do all the running of it and the expenses.

“So it was definitely something that was worth exploring but the majority of councillors voted that it wasn’t beneficial to the community.”

Glengarry BIG4 Port Douglas Holiday Park manager Karlie Brady said any decision to introduce the park would have made life even tougher for her family run facility.

“If you were to take away the RVs from caravan parks, you would severely hurt these businesses who are already suffering during the Covid pandemic,” Ms Brady said.

A survey, conducted by council in September, found five caravan park owners strongly objected to the move in Mossman, or anywhere in the region.

A total of 383 people responded to the survey with 94 per cent agreeing it would be beneficial for the Mossman economy.