THE Mount Gambier Agricultural and Horticultural Society has defended claims the showgrounds has been exceeding its eight permitted campsites, saying the new committee “was not aware” requirements were in place.
The society has lodged a new development application to Mount Gambier City Council for an additional 21 camping sites for motor homes, campervans, caravans and tents on the site of the existing showgrounds in addition to the eight existing sites.
However, The Border Watch has seen timestamped images of the caravan park exceeding its required capacity on number of occasions, with more than 25 caravans parked at the site.
A source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the images showed the park was clearly in breach of their requirements under the existing development application.
Mount Gambier Show Society president Kerry Hill said subsequent changes in committees meant the requirements set by council were not passed on.
“When the plan was originally done in 2006, we had an older committee and with the changes that have happened since, a lot of that information gets filed away and does not get revisited on a regular basis,” she said.
“We were of the understanding we had a permit and it was not until the new person on council came on board and told us we were only allowed eight.
“We applied for more sites and we have only done that because of the demand in travellers.
“A lot of people are into the free camping sites and while we do charge a minimal charge, most campers there are not long-term.
“But we need to certainly abide by council’s rules which we hope we can do with the additional sites.”
Ms Hill also said a number of campers were not aware the showgrounds was private property and would set up camp after hours.
She said an on-ground camp host, who is paid 10pc of the booking fee, was now tasked with site management.
“A lot of people think the grounds are council-owned and they would lob there in the middle of the night,” she said.
“One of the campers polices who is in there.
“Another problem we have is if there are functions on the grounds, we are allowed to have people camp there.
“It might look as if there are more than eight people there, but if you look through the booking sheets we might have had a function on.”
A camper, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed minimal records were kept during a two-week stay at the site.
The camper also said they were not provided with a receipt for the duration of the stay.
Ms Hill dismissed the claims, saying there was a sign-in process required and receipts were available for users.
Mount Gambier City Council declined to comment.
