Dungog caravan park in limbo as plans sought for site

The park, earmarked for council-owned land in Abelard Street, was initially approved by Dungog Council in April 2023.

Successful tenderer for the development, a Sydney-based company, was to start construction after negotiations with Dungog Shire Council but withdrew in mid-2023.

"They withdrew from the process," said Dungog Council General Manager Gareth Curtis. "We have to respect their decision because it's a two-way street."

Dungog Council is now in the process of deciding what it will do with the block of land in Abelard Street.

This involves conducting a strategic options analysis on the property to see what is suitable for the site.

An outcome will be presented to council and then flagged with the community.

Mr Curtis said council hopes to have this done as soon as possible.

"We don't want to go straight back out to expressions of interest for a caravan park if there's certain things that might need to be done to make that feasible," he said.

"We also have housing shortages in the Hunter Valley, NSW and Australia.

"There may be other things that council might need to do on that site," he said.

Another option for the land is for Dungog High School, located next door, to use it for the school's agricultural training.

However Mr Curtis said the possibility of a caravan park is not yet off the table.

"I think there's still interest in the community and that's reflected in council as well," he said.

"What the council really wants to know is what is the best thing for that site," Mr Curtis said.

"If a caravan park is a part of that then it will be included."

Although Mr Curtis is uncertain what the report will say, he hopes that whatever happens to the site will benefit the community.

"Let's just look at what other options might be available, which includes the caravan park and see what the best thing for that site and the community is," he said.

"I hope to see something happen on that site that gives the community some kind of return."

Dungog District Chamber of Commerce President Therese McIntyre said a caravan park would provide a place for tourists to store their bikes when they visit Dungog.

"What I would really like to see is some traction on the caravan park because we critically need a caravan park in Dungog," she said.

"Because you've got bikes you really need to have camping grounds and caravan parks to bring all of that stuff," Ms McIntyre said.