MILLICENT could soon have a designated area for self-contained motor homes and recreational vehicles if the town’s show society has its way.
The Millicent Agricultural, Horticultural and Pastoral Society has sought regulatory approval to use a portion of its Gordon Memorial Oval as a park for up to 25 fee-paying motor homes and RVs.
Widely known as the “show society”, it has earmarked an area measuring 95 by 55 metres for the park and this is the space used each November for trade displays at the Millicent show.
A toilet and shower block are nearby and there are already numerous power points in the area.
The show society is also looking to place advertising signage as part of its application to Wattle Range Council, while its management committee will provide the day-to-day management.
The support documents state the park will offer a “safe and relaxed environment” and will also be “low cost” and “no frills”.
Other than the yearly show, the showgrounds provide grazing for sheep for much of the year.
Society president Neville Copping is hopeful the park can be operational after the annual show in November.
Mr Copping said his group was grateful to Millicent planning consultant Frank Brennan for his help in preparing the application.
He said the showgrounds could provide a facility at peak times for accommodation, such as the annual Generations in Jazz Festival at Mount Gambier.
“Our area will not have the extra facilities like laundries, which the caravan parks have,” Mr Copping said.
“We are looking to capture the roadside campers in their RVs and motor homes.
“At this stage, we have no idea of the level of patronage.”
Mr Copping said the showgrounds at Naracoorte, Mount Gambier and Penola already provided for RVs and motor homes.
“Across Australia, up to 50pc of showgrounds have these facilities,” he said.
In 2016, Wattle Range Council designated a number of parklands and parking bays across the district as areas where RVs and motor homes could have short-term stays.
Millicent already has caravan parks near the swimming lake and in Grosser Street.
A third caravan park operated for many years until the 1980s in the area surrounding the council-owned Caltex service station on Adelaide Road.
Millicent Hillview Caravan Park co-proprietor Gloria Withers has run the Grosser Street business for the past 21 years.
“We are wondering if the Millicent Show Society members have done their sums,” Ms Withers said.
“If we were to rely solely on fees from camping sites and powered sites, we would not be here today.
“Caravan parks around Australia have had a lot of disruption and interference from councils which have established free overnight stays.
“Showgrounds have always had these facilities and I am not surprised the Millicent Show Society is looking to offer them at low cost.
“We at the Millicent Hillview Caravan Park already do this with our $10 sites.
“Millicent has two caravan parks and they are possibly the best-priced anywhere.”
Council has invited public comment on the proposal and it must be lodged by tomorrow.
