ORDINARY MEETING 3 - Cairns Regional Council · The cost to Council of providing free overnight parking at Babinda (Rotary Park & Boulders) is approximately $57,000 per annum for

90

Agenda – Ordinary Meeting 22 May 2013 - #3962326

ORDINARY MEETING

22 MAY 2013 3

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV) STRATEGY

Angelo Finocchiaro: 1/8/4-01: #3953060

RECOMMENDATION:

That Council endorse the Cairns Regional Council RV Strategy and recommendations.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The drive tourism market plays a significant role in the local tourism industry and RV travellers, as a segment of this market, make an important contribution. Camping grounds and caravan parks are the favoured choice for affordable accommodation for budget travellers and the RV drive market. In recent years however, a number of caravan parks have closed for varying reasons. This has impacted the number of affordable accommodation options available for budget travellers and, as a result, has placed more pressure on Councils to fill this gap. Cairns Regional Council currently provides two free overnight camping facilities at Babinda, which cater for both RVs and for other budget travellers. Free black water dump-point facilities are also provided at three separate locations in Cairns City, Mossman and Babinda. Designated day parking has also been made available for RVs along Mill Street in Gordonvale, with accompanying directional signage from the Bruce Highway. Notwithstanding the existing infrastructure, Council has not yet developed a formal position or strategy in relation to RVs and the provision of infrastructure which supports this market. Council is conscious of the need to develop a balanced approach which meets the needs of all stakeholders, including: RV travellers, the local community and commercial operators. As a result, Council has developed a RV Strategy to formalise its position in relation to the provision of infrastructure and services required by the RV market. The development of the RV Strategy provides market certainty and commercial caravan park operators whom may be considering further investment in the sector can proceed with clarity and confidence. The RV strategy recommends that Council: 1. Provide designated parking bays for RVs at the following proposed locations:

Bunda Street, Kenny Street, Port Douglas and Mossman; 2. Encourage RV travellers to utilise the proposed new designated bays in the CBD

and other towns through the installation of appropriate directional signage;

91


3. Work with the community, local caravan park operators and other key stakeholders, including the CMCA, when assessing the need for additional RV related infrastructure;

4. Work with the Queensland Government and all other relevant stakeholders on the delivery of the Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy to ensure all relevant actions relating to RV travellers are consistent with this strategy.

The RV Strategy is consistent with Council’s Caravan Parks and Campgrounds Policy No. 1:06:35 which was developed to provide direction for Council’s caravan parks and campground businesses. The policy and associated Business Plan seeks to reduce operational involvement in the market by Council as well as retain Council’s influence over strategic decision making. In comparison to other tourism regions, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and other major tourist cities on Queensland’s east coast are also not listed on the CMCA website as being RV Friendly. The exception is Townsville, which is currently listed as being a RV friendly town however all sites are located well outside the city centre.

BACKGROUND:

Council has not yet developed a formal position or strategy in relation to RV’s and the provision of infrastructure which supports this market, including: day and overnight parking and black water dump facilities. An RV Strategy has been developed to formalise and make known Council’s position in relation to the provision of infrastructure and services required by the RV market. The strategy also seeks to provide clarity and confidence for existing commercial caravan operators. The RV strategy is consistent with the Caravan Parks and Campgrounds Policy No. 1:06:35 which sets out to reduce operational involvement by Council as well as retain influence over strategic decision making. Council currently provides two free overnight camping facilities at Babinda (Boulders & Babinda Creek Park Reserve) that cater for both RVs and for other budget travellers. The maximum stay at both sites is 3 days (72 hours). The site at Babinda Creek Park Reserve was expanded in 2012 and includes a new amenities block with six coin-operated hot showers. These facilities complement the existing black water dump point, toilets, BBQs and sheltered picnic tables. RV day parking has recently been designated on Mill Street in Gordonvale with accompanying directional signage from the Bruce Highway. In 2010 a Queensland Government Parliamentary Committee (Economic Development) held an Inquiry into developing Queensland’s rural and regional communities through grey nomad tourism. A conclusion of the inquiry found that ‘while grey nomads may make a significant contribution to local towns, local governments should be cautious about providing free or subsidised accommodation services.’ (Attachment 3)

92


COMMENT: A number of options exist to provide day parking sites at locations throughout the region including the Cairns CBD, Mossman and Port Douglas which will encourage increased visitation by RV travellers and facilitate growth in tourism. The number of parking sites will be determined on a case by case basis. Site locations have been identified based on the opportunity for commercial activity, lack of existing parking and ease of access from arterial roads. It is recommended that appropriate directional and parking signage be installed to direct RV travellers to these locations. Given the provision of existing black water dump points it is recommended that no additional facilities are required within the region. Further, it is recommended that no additional overnight parking should be provided due to the existing number of sites available in Babinda and due to the availability of sites offered by commercial operators throughout the region. Should any additional overnight parking be proposed, it is recommended that adequate measures be investigated and consultation with industry be undertaken to ensure no adverse impact on commercial operators. The Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and other major cities/tourist areas on Queensland’s east coast are not listed on the CMCA website as being RV Friendly. Townsville is currently listed as being an RV friendly town but all sites are located north of the city at Saunders Beach, Bluewater Park, Toomulla, Rollingstone Park and Balgal Beach. Provisions has been made in the RV Strategy as well as through existing policies by the Queensland Government and the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland to cater for one off events and peak periods by the agreement with commercial caravan park operators and event organisers to ensure that suitable facilities are provided for RV travellers. Council will work closely with the Queensland Government in the delivery of the Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy 2013-2015 to ensure all relevant actions relating to RV travellers are consistent with Council’s RV Strategy. The Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy covers issues relating commercial and non-commercial accommodation (Attachment 2) including demand, costs and local government considerations. An update to Council will be provided within three months in relation to delivery and implementation of the Strategy.

93


CONSULTATION: Through the development of the RV Strategy, ED&I have undertaken initial consultation with industry and representative bodies. These groups include:

1. Rob Giason, CEO, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ); 2. Ken Kipping, Director, CMCA & National consumer representative,

MoTOURing Australia 3. Gary Rebgetz, State Representative, CMCA; 4. Geoff Olholm, President Caravan Parks Association of Queensland (Northern

Division) / Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort; 5. Craig Pocock, Manager, Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort; and 6. Jenny Tonkin, Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort.

TTNQ and the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland (Northern Division) and Cairns Coconut Resort Holiday are supportive of the recommendation that day parking sites are provided throughout the region to allow for improved access for commercial activity. They are not supportive of any additional free overnight parking within the region. CMCA & MoTOURing Australia would prefer to see additional overnight parking in the Cairns region (e.g. Cairns Showgrounds). It was noted that the provision of day parking sites is good initial step towards encouraging additional visitation by RV travellers. Feedback also indicated that RV travellers are bypassing Cairns in favour of other locations in the region that provide free overnight accommodation (e.g. Rocky Creek, Mt Molloy, and Cooktown). Internal consultation has also been undertaken with Parks and Leisure and Local Laws.

CONSIDERATIONS:

Risk Management (including financials): The cost to Council of providing free overnight parking at Babinda (Rotary Park & Boulders) is approximately $57,000 per annum for cleaning and maintenance only. Costs relating to the cleansing charge for the three free black water dump points are unable to be provided as they are not itemised. Additionally, enforcement costs have not been included. The proposed location of new RV day parking sites are contained within existing parking facilities/sites and would require only minor works to enable RV access. Additional directional and parking signage would also be required. Council has the appropriate local laws, and enforcement officers, to administer effective policing and enforcement of any additional day parking for RVs.

94


Corporate and Operational Plans: Consideration was given to the following Corporate and Operational Plans: Corporate Plan: Goal 4 – Delivering Services and Infrastructure - Implement strategies to address parking needs in the CBD Goal 5 – Creating a Prosperous Region - To increase the region’s capacity for long-term economic growth by supporting opportunities for local business and local employment Goal 6 – Striving for Organisational Excellence

Statutory: The Local Government Act 2009 outlines key principles including good governance and transparent and efficient processes and decision making in the public interest.

Policy: General Policy, Council's Role in Regional Economic Development, states that Council recognises that there is value in Council supporting specific initiatives or projects that will have significant economic benefits for all or parts of the local government area.

Sustainability: Resources: The outcome and delivery phase of the activity will increase travel related GHG emissions. Environment: The activity has a neutral effect on the environment. Community: The activity includes actions that will provide/ improve access to services for all members of the community. Governance and economic management: The activity will support employment in the region, via external businesses or by increasing jobs within Council and is being delivered by existing Council staff. The ongoing operational costs arising from the activity will be higher than current/existing operational costs.

95


Options That: 1. That Council endorses the RV Strategy and adopts the recommendations; or 2. That Council does not adopt the RV Strategy.

ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Cairns Regional Council RV Strategy #3835816 V2 Attachment 2: Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy 2013-1015 (P28-29) Attachment 3: Queensland Government Parliamentary Committee (Economic

Development) Inquiry into developing Queensland’s rural and regional communities through grey nomad tourism Feb 2011 (179, p43)

Angelo Finocchiaro Senior Economic Development & Innovation Officer Peter Boyd Manager Strategic Planning & Economic Development

96


Attachment 1: RV Strategy (executive attachment)

97


98


99


100


101


102


103


104


105


Attach

ment 2: Q

Agend

Queenslan

a – Ordinary

nd Drive T

106

y Meeting 22

Tourism St

May 2013 -

trategy 20

#3962326

013-1015 (P28-29)

Attach(Econocommu

ment 3: Qomic Deveunities thr

Agend

Queenslanelopment)rough gre

a – Ordinary

nd GovernInquiry iny nomad t

107

y Meeting 22

nment Parnto develotourism F

May 2013 -

rliamentaroping Queeb 2011 (1

#3962326

y Commiteensland’s179, p43)

ttee s rural andd regional

l

Documents

ORDINARY MEETING 3 - Cairns Regional Council · The cost to Council of providing free overnight parking at Babinda (Rotary Park & Boulders) is approximately $57,000 per annum for