2014-08-19 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda - Pages 1-101

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               19 AUGUST 2014


REPORT
1.    INTRODUCTION
The caravan, motorhome and camping industry is reported to be the fastest growing domestic
tourism sector in Australia and has been for each of the last 10 years (source: Caravan and
Camping Tourism Association of NSW Annual report 2012). The camping market across
Australia is reported by the Queensland Government to be worth in excess of $7 billion.

A report to the General Committee, titled Accommodating Recreational Vehicles and Camping in
Noosa, dated 28 April 2014 informed Council about the:
1. extent of existing camping areas within Noosa Shire;
2. illegal camping occurring in carparks throughout Noosa and the coastal areas and actions
   being undertaken to address the matter;
3. requirements contained within the Noosa Plan relating to development of camp grounds and
   caravan parks;
4. high costs associated with establishing sites for camping; and
5. the need for additional facilities in the hinterland areas.
The purpose of this report is to inform Council of actions which have been undertaken since April.

2. INDUSTRY INPUT
A meeting was held on 7 May 2014 with caravan park and backpacker hostel owners/managers
in the Noosa Heads/Tewantin area and with Tourism Noosa to discuss how campervan
occupants can be encouraged to stay in facilities in a safe environment rather than on the streets
and in carparks where it is not safe.

The meeting was positively received with the main messages from the meeting being:
 ensuring Noosa remains an attractive destination for all visitors;
 that a balanced approach is required; and
 the high levels of travellers coming to Noosa in campervans should be viewed as an
   opportunity, rather than a negative.

An outcome of the meeting was the development of an action task list with responsibility of tasks
spread amongst attendees. A copy of the task list is provided as Attachment 1. Five tasks were
assigned to Council with suggested implementation detail outlined below. Those tasks assigned
to Tourism Noosa and the caravan park industry will be monitored by Council’s economic
development officer who will provide ongoing support and encouragement to assist their
implementation if/when required.

A.    Investigate feasibility of various overflow options and seek to implement subject to Council
      endorsement.

      This action is also supported by the April Ordinary Meeting resolution to “Investigate
      provisions to enable existing caravan parks to expand their site capacities during peak
      seasons to allow for overflow.”

      The overflow period extends for approximately 4 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks at Easter
      and the occasional long weekend. During the aforementioned meeting, industry
      representatives identified three overflow options:


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