Willow Bend makeover gets go-ahead from Wentworth Shire

WENTWORTH’S Willow Bend Caravan Park will receive a $6.7 million makeover across the next decade.

Wentworth Shire councillors voted on Wednesday to endorse the redevelopment and business plan and to set aside $1.1 million in the shire’s 2020-21 operational plan to start the first of three project stages.

The council bought the caravan park in 2017 and has a broad vision to update the ageing park, including the installation of on-site cabins, new amenity block, camp kitchen and recreational facilities.

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A recent review of the caravan park identified a lack of long-term vision, low occupancy rates and the need to enhance management and customer service as some of the motivating factors for the redevelopment.

“Willow Bend Caravan Park is an important community asset to the town of Wentworth however over the years the standard of the park’s facilities has declined and it is now in need of a major upgrade or replacement,” a council report read.

“In some circumstances, the facilities are no longer compliant with modern standards.”

The installation of six new on-site cabins, power upgrades, water and sewer works and realignment of internal roads will be completed across the next three years and will form part of a $1.9 million spend on stage 1.

Boosting tourism and overnight visitor expenditure in regional NSW was highlighted as another major opportunity in the council’s business plan, with caravan parks becoming more popular for inter-generational holidays.

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“NSW is Australia’s favourite state for caravanning and camping with 24 per cent of all caravan and camping visitors in Australia heading to NSW,” the business plan stated.

“Most importantly, the caravan and camping industry accounts for 31 per cent of holiday visitor nights to NSW regional and rural areas, making them a vitally important part of the state’s tourism infrastructure.”

Willow Bend Caravan Park has 12 on-site cabins, five permanent cabins and vans, an office and one main amenities block.

Upon completion of the project, the site will expand to have 30 on-site cabins, five permanent cabin sites, 65 powered sites and 15 unpowered camp sites.

The redevelopment will be jointly funded by Wentworth Shire Council, which will contribute just over $2.5 million for the makeover.