The Point’s Riverside Caravan Park Set For Upgrade

Murrumbidgee Council has called for public comment on a draft master plan for the future development of Darlington Point’s Riverside Caravan Park.

The proposal is a $9 million staged upgrade of the popular park.

Council’s General Manager John Scarce said the caravan park had incredible potential due to its location on the banks of the idyllic Murrumbidgee River, complemented by the tourist and commercial assets of the area.

“The master plan is focused on developing the park to provide an attractive, accessible and family friendly park that will capitalise on the riverside location,” Mr Scarce said.

The proposed upgrade will be undertaken in two stages. Stage 1 includes eight new elevated cabins/eco structures on short-term sites, a new camp kitchen building, upgrading of the main amenities building to include an accessible bathroom, new reception, new splash pad and new playground.

Stage 1 will also include improvements to the Town Beach Reserve Precinct, including widening the roads, new car parking areas, clearing and levelling the area, new park furniture and landscaping, new public toilet and a serviced pad for food vans.

Stage 2 will include the addition of seven more elevated cabins, new concrete slab/synthetic grass pads on 29 caravan sites, upgrading the internal road network, upgrading the southern amenity buildings and installing ensuites in four short-term sites. Some of the other developments include a new barbecue shelter for the camping area and a new river viewing deck.

It is an ambitious project and Council has contracted planning and design organisation Integrated Site Design to develop a comprehensive master plan that provides for a major upgrade to the park, supported by a business case demonstrating its financial viability.

The business case is based on attracting a broad range of tourists to increase occupancy rates. It is also based on creating an environmentally sustainable facility which conserves the natural environment for future generations.

Council plans funding the project with a mixture of capital grants and loan borrowings. Based on projections in the master plan, the construction phases will provide 30 new local jobs and inject $15.66 million into the Murrumbidgee Council economy.

The master plan will be on public exhibition until August 31 on the Council website and also at each Council office. Submissions are invited and will be received until 5pm on Tuesday, September 14.

• Topics:

• Tourism
• Developments