General News
25 June, 2025
A "no" signal for Tenterfield caravan park
Tenterfield caravan park decision
No caravan park here, thanks.
Tenterfield Shire Council is expected to refuse an application to develop a caravan park at 44 Francis Street, Tenterfield, at the ordinary meeting of council this week.
According to documents that will be tabled, an external consultant hired by council has recommended refusal. Apparently, the proposed development has not provided the necessary level of amenity required by local government regulation and is not consistent with the definition of “caravan park” under the Tenterfield Local Environmental Plan 2023, which states that a caravan park must be provided “with access to communal amenities.”
If council refuses the application, which is the recommendation, it will bring an end to an issue that has been brewing since December 2023, when the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia approached council with a proposal. Since then, various reports and resolutions around the application have been made.
There have been two submission periods and four submissions made to the Shire council about the possibility of a caravan site. Planning staff raised questions around the lack of planned showers and toilets, facilities for people with disabilities, absence of laundry facilities. Public submissions highlighted child protection issues with the facility being near St Josephs School. Increased traffic on Francis Street was also raised. Similar issues were raised in the second round of public submissions in May this year. The applicant, however was not impressed.
“The matters raised in further submissions against the proposal have simply reiterated what they had raised previously, which we have already responded to. I do not with to continue to cover the same ground over and over, when it is obvious it does not matter what we provide, it will be dismissed by those who are against the development,” the applicant responded.
However, there was one letter of support for the development which came from the Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism Industry and Business which was received after the close of the submission period. The letter argued for consideration of business growth and development and creating an RV friendly town.
Tenterfield Shire councillors will be presented with over 100 pages of documents relating to the caravan park including submissions, letters, previous recommendations, reports and assessments in order to make a final decision.
