AN initial step towards the return of a caravan park on the Murray River will be brought before Albury Council early next year.
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Cr Murray King's pre-election commitment for a riverfront caravan park in the city was brought before council on Monday night with unanimous support for staff to identify possible options and locations.
They have been set a February 28 deadline for the report with Cr King also hoping to have the facility built within close proximity to the Albury CBD.
“We came to the election that we would be looking to develop a (recreational vehicle) park in the local area,” he said.
“As I've said previously Albury is a river town that doesn't have a recreational vehicle park.
“Most river towns from Albury to South Australia have caravan parks or recreational vehicle parks on the banks of the Murray.
“Development of this type of facility would increase tourism exponentially and promote the town exponentially. Albury needs this type of facility.”
Albury’s riverside Noreuil Park played host to campers from 1929 to the early 1980s.
But caravans were removed amid concerns about flooding and falling tree branches.
The recent election campaign when Cr King floated the caravan park idea also coincided with one of the worst floods in recent memory which included the evacuation of the Riverdeck Cafe.
Cr King said everyone should be involved in the consultative process in response to queries raised by Cr Graham Docksey as to whether the park would also be a free recreational vehicle site.
Cr Alice Glachan also hoped the report could consider whether the park would be owned and operated by council or privately run.
General manager Frank Zaknich said due to the short timeframe the report would only provide some “preliminary insights” into what could happen.
“Obviously it won't go into a lot of detail, but it will give council essentially an understanding of what the potential options and locations are,” he said.
Mayor Kevin Mack sought clarification on whether a caravan park had been previously investigated by council.
Mr Zaknich said no detailed work had been done.
“The Murray River Experience master-plan did identify a site in proximity to the Murray River, but not the other criteria of being in close proximity to the CBD.”