LIVING THE DREAM

No doubt most of us have been in the situation of being on holiday, having a great time, and thinking, "Woudn't it be great to live like this all year round." The idyllic setting makes us wish we could give up the drudgery of our normal weekday job, and move to the country or seaside to run a pub, or hotel, or even a caravan park!

Of course, the reality of being a caravan park owner is far from the peaceful and relaxed job we may imagine it to be. The smiling face that welcomes us on arrival, the cheery wave from the chap riding round on the cute little lawn mower, may hide the tired and disillusioned person who gave up the steady 9-5 secure job back home.

Our guide is meant to give an over-view of the process and problems of buying and running a caravan park. It may help, or it may put off. Either way it may help some decide whether running a caravan park really is "living the dream".

BUYING A PARK

There are 5 main types of touring or holiday home:

• touring caravans
• motorhomes
• tents
• caravan holiday homes (statics)
• park homes (residential)

There are several other forms of recreational accommodation, including various kinds of trailer tents, pop-up caravans, and wooden chalets.

Buying a caravan park
Park Australia specialise in handling the sale of caravan parks. We have several parks for sale on their website www.parkaustralia.com.au

If you want to know more about being a Caravan Park Owner, we will continue this topic in subsequent postings. Follow us on the link in the top right hand corner of this Blog and you will get an automatic note of the next posting.
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For Sale: Ravensthorpe Caravan Park, WA

Located on the edge of town only a short stroll to the main street, this 14 acre caravan park is set in amongst tall trees in a bushland setting.

The park is adjacent to the Fitzgerald River National Park and is a stopping point for many travelers commuting between Abany & Esperance. The park provides cabin and van accommodation both for travelers, workers & back packers. In its heyday the park provided accommodation for workers employed by B.H.P. building the new mine – when B.H.P. exited the town the whole area suffered whilst bad publicity prevailed.

The recent acquisition of the mine by Quantum Minerals a Canadian company will see new and invigorated activity in the town – with accommodation being at a premium – the Ravensthorpe Caravan Park is in a prime location and with much available development area available within the park and zoning advantages makes for the natural choice of the miners to locate to the caravan park.

Fitzgerald River National Park on the southern coast of Western Australia, is located 419km south-east of Perth, 180 kilometres north-east of Albany, 9Km west of Hopetoun and 215Km west of Esperance.

Fitzgerald River National Park is over 330,000 hectares of unspoiled wilderness and is a renowned Biosphere Reserve, containing as one of the most rich and diverse botanical regions in the world.

Fitzgerald National Park is made up of rugged coastal hills

known as the Barrens. These stretch across from east to west, and feature diverse landscapes, protected beaches, rugged sea cliffs, steep ranges and extensive plains

Another feature of the park are the Spongelite Cliffs that can be seen along the Fitzgerald and Hamersley Rivers. These cliffs are made of soft rock formed millions of years ago and featuring the fossils of sea sponges.

For more details, call Dale Wood on 0417 811 035

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Considerations when Redesigning a Caravan Park

The primary focus of the design is to provide a higher quality of living and to create a favourable environment for both permanent and casual occupants. This is achieved by following the regulations and exceeding some of the minimum requirements. The result is a park that has a superior living environment with large lots and a large proportion of open space. 

Modern caravan parks are planned in a similar way to suburban subdivisions. The designs take into account factors including site area, lot size, floor space to lot area ratios, setbacks, road design, utilities and services, stormwater design, vegetation, solar access, audio and visual privacy, building materials, flood liable land and bush fire hazards. Most of these factors have applicable restrictions in regulations with the exception of solar access, vegetation and the privacy issues. 

The use of caravan parks has changed substantially since their origination as holiday destinations. In recent years there has been a shift in the pattern of use of caravan parks with an increase in the proportion of permanent residents. This changing pattern in tenants and use has created new planning issues in the design of caravan parks. These changes have prompted new legislation and regulations to be implemented. As the demands on caravan parks continue to change the planning and design methods will need to evolve also. 

Using an expert Planning Service offered by Park Australia through their Park Planning division, ensures that all aspects of upgrading a Caravan Park are adequately covered and the park becomes the ideal place for the market of the area.

Contact Park Australia's Planning Expert, Dale Wood, for a greater understanding of what is needed to bring your park into a modern holiday establishment. Dales email address is dale@parkplanning.com.au
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More Roadside Facilties Planned for Caravanners

Caravanners will have dedicated road stops vvithin 350km of each other under a plan to create an ex­tensive caravan and recreational vehicle network around WA.

Tourism WA is working on the plan which Tourism Minister Kim Hames hopes will be completed this year It will identify "gaps" in the road system where facilities are not available for caravanners and rec­reational vehicle drivers — partic­ularly water supplies, toilets, show­ers and waste disposal sites.

Dr Hames said it was important to make caravanning as attractive as possible, especially with 20 per cent of WA's population retired or approaching retirement. With more disposable income available, these people were likely to consider caravanning as a holi­day option — and an alternative to cheap overseas holidays.

"There are two aspects to making caravanning more enjoyable," Dr Hames said. "It is important that we have enough caravan parks in key towns around the State to be able to cope with peak-period de­mand."
"But the journey to these towns also needs to be comfortable."

"I am told that most caravanners like to travel at about 85km/h about four or five. hours. SO that means they need stopping facilities every 300-350km. That's our aim."

Dr Flames said the caravan-friendly town of Wongan Hills was a good example of what could be achieved.

"I am told visitors to the town have increased fivefold in recent times — largely from the caravan market," he said. "Having that many people coming to the town is obviously good for everyone, in­cluding the local businesses.

"We want to create lots of Won­gan Hills all over the'State."

Tourism Cceincll chief executh Evala Hall said caravanning wt important to the tourism industr because it helped ensure loca took their holidays in WA.

But he said it was important tl proposed new caravan stops did re have an adverse impact on esta lished caravan park owners an businesses.

Dr Haines said representath bodies for local caravan and recr ational vehicle owners would he] create the network plan.'

He would then approach Regioi al Development Minister Brenda Grylls for Royalties for Regior money.

Caravan Park Plans Completed

Park Planning has successfully completed upgrade plans on two parks, one in Tasmania and another in Western Australia.

1) Mersey Caravan Park:- Cavenport, Tasmania.

Arial View Of Mersey Bluff

The design concept has just been completed with the assistance of Planning Partner, Hansen Partners of Melbourne. The changes to the park will be put into action very soon.

Gnowangerup Aerial View

2) Gnowangerup :- Western Australia.
One of many planned "Roadside Stops" which will be built in WA, the first of these was Wongan Hills which is 2 hours north of Perth. These "Stops" are being considered at intervals of 300-350kms which is about the time of 4 -5hrs driving which most caravanners swee as a daily limit. See future Blog for more details of Wongan Hills.

Some planning work still in progress are:-

• Broken Hill City Caravan Park, NSW.
• Jetty Caravan Park, Yankalilla, SA. (Working with the local Council)
• Rose gardens Caravan Park in Albany, WA. (for the Acclaim Group)
• Big 4 Caravan Park, Port Douglas, Qld. (for the Brady Family)
• Two Caravan Parks in Perth for an undisclosed Developer.

If you would like more information on how we can assist you in re planning your Caravan Park, call Dale Wood on 0417 811 035 and he will be delighted to come and discuss your needs.
You can also see more by visiting our web site at www.parkplanning.com.au

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