APRIL 2021
 

Could detract from township's 'quiet and quaint' character

Locals divided over plans for RV stopover park on Southern Downs

Maryvale: locals divided over planned new RV stopover  park

  Have your say

LOCALS are divided over plans to provide a new 72-hour RV stopover park and dump point at a small "quiet and quaint" township on Queensland's Southern Downs.

The area's regional council has received a petition from the Maryvale Progress Association in favour of the facility being installed at the Railway Reserve and voted to refer the matter for further investigation.

While the petition was signed by more than 100 local residents and visitors, the proposal for a council-funded and maintained short-term caravan site has also been met by opposition from some residents.

In submitting the petition to the council, MPA secretary Simon Ellery's accompanying letter claimed the project "will encourage visitors to the village to experience and enjoy the Railway Reserve".

But it admitted opposing residents were concerned the project could detract from the quiet and quaint character of the township and suggested that funds would be better spent on essential infrastructure for the local community.

Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said the council supported villages across the region to enhance their unique charm and character.

He believed it was important in Maryvale's case to further review the proposal for a short-term RV park to determine what was in the best interest of the whole community.

"Council is keen to work with individual communities to help them their shape and enrich their urban areas and Maryvale is home to a proud and passionate community who treasure where they live," Cr Pennisi said.

"Council worked closely in 2018 with the Maryvale community on its Urban Design Framework, and reviewing the RV proposal is another layer of the project.

"Council recently met with the Maryvale community and heard first hand that there are two sides to this story."

Councillor Stephen Tancred voted in favour of receiving the petition, saying the number of signatories indicated there was merit and support to investigate the proposal further.

"This petition has well over 100, maybe 200 signatures and I note that most of them live at Maryvale or Goomburra or somewhere fairly close," he said.

"As petitions go, it seems to carry a fair bit of weight and I can commend the residents of Maryvale for communicating with us in this way."

At a recent Connecting with Council meeting in Maryvale, it was noted that 303 people lived in the locality.

BACK TO CARAVANNING NEWS MAIN PAGE