Caravan park pulled from new development

Developers of a new service centre on Gunnedah’s eastern approaches have abandoned plans to include a caravan park on a site.

Located at the corner of the Oxley and Kamilaroi highways, the proposed centre would include 12 bowsers including four for heavy vehicles and a 550sqm convenience store stocking food, drinks, and general goods.

The Gunnedah Times reported in January that the gateway development will also feature two fast food outlets with a total floor area of about 840sqm, seating for 120 diners as well as drive through facilities.

Additional amenities would include parking areas for trucks, RVs, light vehicles and hydrogen/electric vehicles and a barbecue facility for use by service centre patrons. A total of 105 parking spaces were included in the site’s original concept design.

The development was also to include a caravan park capable of accommodating about 47 berths. But an update to Gunnedah Shire Council has explained this component will no longer be happening.

“The applicant has experienced delays and difficulty in obtaining the information requested within the gateway determination that is required to process the component of the PP (planning proposal) relating to the caravan park,” council’s October business paper stated.

“The Department of Planning and Environment has requested, that given the processing time to complete the PP has elapsed, that council withdraw the PP.

“Council has consulted with the applicant and have been advised that they will resubmit another PP with a revised proposal that doesn’t include a caravan park.”

The proposed new service centre is located within a few hundred metres of another planned development – a three-storey, 70-room, 4.5 star hotel with a bar and restaurant, also on the Oxley Highway.

Developers of the service centre were contacted for comment.