A NEW booking process will be introduced at the redeveloped Fraser Coast Regional Council-owned caravan parks to ensure a fair and equitable allocation of sites to returning guests.

Deputy Mayor Denis Chapman said Council owned four caravan parks on the beachfront in Scarness, Burrum Heads, Torquay and Pialba, which will all be refurbished over the next few years to ensure the parks meet current standards and visitor expectations.

“The existing infrastructure in the parks is aging and the parks need upgrading to suit modern vans, especially RVs,” he said.

“Master plans have been prepared for the four parks, with the redevelopment creating a unique circumstance in which not all past guests will be able to secure a similar site during their preferred holiday periods when the parks reopen.

“This is because the parks’ layouts are changing with fewer, larger sites to cater for bigger, modern vans.”

Cr Chapman said a ballot would be conducted to determine the first 12 months of bookings of each newly developed section, with the first stage of the Scarness Caravan Park redevelopment due to be finished in early 2024.

“The ballot will be open to all past guests that stayed in the western end of the Scarness Caravan Park in the 12 months before it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“We anticipate the ballot for the redeveloped western end of the Scarness Caravan Park will open in October with bookings to be open to the public for the remaining sites once the ballot allocations have been finalised.”

Cr Chapman said the booking process for the four caravan parks was being overhauled, along with the conditions for deposits and cancellations.

“The new process will provide the opportunity for guests to rebook for the same period the following year but limits the timeframe they have to commit to their next year’s booking,” he said.

“If guests do not rebook within the timeframes, they won’t have the opportunity to retain their preferred site, and there will be no ability to automatically transfer a site to family and friends.

“We believe this is a fairer and more equitable process for both new and returning guests.”

More information about the caravan parks’ redevelopment is available at https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/caravan-parks/ 

More information about the four Council-owned caravan parks on the Fraser Coast, including booking details and rates, is available at https://beachfronttouristparks.com.au/