Tables, chairs and bins from the Heritage Mall could find new life at a free overnight camp for motorhomes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The old furniture will be removed when work starts on The Levee project next month.
“It’s potentially a good reuse of this furniture,” deputy mayor Cr Steve Procter said.
“Just to recognise the city as RV [recreation vehicle] friendly would be a boon for tourism.”
The Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australia, which creates maps and reviews of tourist hot spots, has been in talks with Maitland City Council since 2012 to build a campsite and enable travellers to stay free of charge for up to 72 hours.
There are no vacancies at Maitland’s existing two caravan parks, which are full with permanent residences, and a third commercial park near Telarah is still in the planning stages.
“I believe there is a real need for that [third tourist park] and I don’t see [the campsite] operating in opposition to that,” Cr Procter said.
“The demand was probably proven by the illegal camping at Groovin the Moo.” Campers in town for the music festival were asked to help clean up some of the mess generated as a result of the overwhelming numbers.
“We’ve got to work out if tents will be allowed,” Cr Procter said.
“The problem with tents is that they’re not self-sufficient for water and showers.”
The Caravan and Motorhome club will provide the effluent dump point for free, which Cr Procter said council planned to install at Harold Gregson Reserve near No.1 Sportsground.
The proposed location is adjacent to the existing amenities block linked to High Street via an existing footpath.
“It’s not a big job, we just need to put in a table, some chairs and bins,” Cr Procter said.
“It’s within walking distance to tourist information centre, cafes and all the facilities of High Street.”
The existing footpath has been earmarked for an upgrade to make it 1.5 metres wide, the new state government standard for paths that cyclists and pedestrians share.
Cr Procter said the site and its access off High Street met traffic standards and would enable council to build the campsite in a cost efficient way.
“Because there isn’t money for it we’re using funds that are already allocated [in the area] to get a better bang for our buck,” he said.
“Because there is no [formal] project, we’re doing it as we go along [and] I hope to see people staying there later this year.”
Council resolved to reuse the mall furniture where appropriate across the city earlier this year.
