Caravan park plan has "no support"

A proposed caravan park in Broome has been denounced by other operators as not needed and something that would potentially hurt their businesses.

The 13.5-ha facility would feature about 492 caravan sites, 156 cabins and 94 camping spots on land off Sanctuary Road, near Cable Beach.

It would be released for development under a partnership between the Shire of Broome and Tourism WA.

Earlier this year acting tourism minister John Day said the plan delivered on a $40.7m Royalties for Regions caravan and camping action plan and parks for people initiative.

Tarangau Caravan Park owner Grant Garrett said the new operation would impact on existing caravan parks and businesses providing short-term accommodation.

"The simple fact is that tourism is in a decline in Broome, both for caravan parks and for resorts," he said.

"We are perplexed as to why we need another caravan park in town when the majority of caravan parks here are struggling to get any growth in numbers."

Mr Garrett said existing caravan parks were now far from full almost 90 per cent of the year. Discovery Holiday Parks has been chosen by the council as the preferred contractor and lease negotiations have commenced.

The Shire will soon release a business plan advertising the proposal for six weeks during which time the public will be invited to make submissions.

DHP will lease the land and build the caravan park in stages over three years if it is accepted.

During public question time at the ordinary council meeting on August 28, Mr Garrett asked if the Shire was aware that the business plan being developed was based on an "outdated" feasibility study containing "hot gossip", "hearsay" and "blatant lies".

Mr Garrett was told by Shire chief executive Kenn Donohoe it was a Tourism WA study and the question would be submitted to TWA for response.

At the same meeting, Habitat Resort manager Michael Leake asked: "Given that there is no support from the ratepayers of Broome nor the Broome tourism industry for a new caravan park to be developed now, could you please explain why the Shire is devoting scarce resources to developing a business plan for a new development in Broome that no-one wants?"

He was told by deputy Shire president Jenny Bloom there would be an opportunity for public comment when the business case was released.

Mr Leake then asked if the process was being driven by the council and "if so by whom, if not internally driven or other external party, is the Shire being reimbursed by Tourism WA for work being done by Shire staff?"

Mr Donohoe replied: "There is a series of resolutions that go back to around 2006. We will take this on notice and provide you with a response."