The Moruya Rodeo will not be impacted by the establishment of a primitive camping ground at Moruya Showground. Photo: Moruya Rodeo Facebook.
Eurobodalla Shire Council has approved a proposal to establish a primitive camping ground at Moruya Showground for self-contained caravans and motor homes only.
There would be a maximum of 18 camping sites in two designated areas. It is targeted at the niche market of grey nomads who want affordable camping options and amenities. The maximum stay would be seven nights.
There would be an on-site caretaker and bookings would be through council’s centralised booking office and online booking platform. Camping operations would be restricted during large annual events such as the annual show and rodeo. That would ensure the camping ground did not restrict regular user groups and also minimise the impact on existing caravan park operators.
Three people spoke about the proposal in the public forum section of council’s recent monthly general meeting. Including the councillors’ debate, the proposal took up some 75 minutes of the two-hour meeting.
The motion debated was to adopt the proposal to establish a primitive camping ground at Moruya Showground and endorse the preparation and lodgement of a development application to permit primitive camping in parts of the showground.
The motion also included endorsing an allocation of $86,000 to bring the facilities up to standard. This comprised $40,000 to replace 10 power boards to existing event camping sites due to asbestos, $23,000 on ceilings and roofing, $20,000 to upgrade shower and toilet facilities and $3000 to install and connect a dump point to the existing sewer mains.
Project management costs would take the total capital investment to $100,000. Against that, the camping ground is expected to produce annual revenue of $90,000. That is based on a camping fee of $30 per night on 18 sites and 50 per cent occupancy.
The camping fees would be reinvested back into the showground facility. The camping ground is expected to boost the economy of Moruya and surrounds through tourism spending on fuel, dining, shopping and various services.
A diagram showing the two designated areas on Moruya Showground for primitive camping grounds. Photo: Via Eurobodalla Shire Council website.
In the public forum session, Lindsay Boyton of the Moruya Showground Management Committee, a council Section 355 committee, spoke in favour of the proposal.
He said he regularly received calls from travellers asking if there was camping available at the showground. He has told them the showground camping closest to Moruya is at Milton and Bega.
“Most only want to stay one or two nights, so businesses in Moruya are losing out on this business,” Mr Boyton said. “When we get the bypass we will be losing passing traffic so the showground could be made RV-friendly, but we would need signs up saying that Moruya is RV-friendly.”
Patricia Hellier of Batemans Bay said she had advocated for the camping ground for some 12 years.
She noted there was funding available and the upgrades to the showground’s facilities would have to be done whether or not the camping ground was approved.
“The shire needs to embrace all forms of tourism,” Ms Hellier said.
As a grey nomad she has camped at showgrounds.
“It is a totally different atmosphere of like-minded people who camp at showgrounds,” Ms Hellier said. “Grey nomads don’t generally go to caravan parks.”
Eurobodalla Shire councillors and former general manager Warwick Winn. Photo: Eurobodalla Shire Council.
A council staff member read out a letter from Corinne East, managing director of Easts Holiday Parks.
Ms East said the primitive camping ground would divert business from existing caravan park operators who were significant employers. She said it was common practice for councils to apply a 20 km radius from existing caravan parks to new primitive camping sites.
“Commercial caravan parks play a vital role in the tourism economy, including environmental stewardship and providing visitor information,” she said.
The draft proposal was on public exhibition for 42 days during December 2024 and January 2025 and was advertised in council’s December newsletter that was distributed to 3602 residents.
Council received 34 submissions, with 31 in favour and three opposed. Of the 34 submissions, 31 came from individuals, a mix of Moruya residents and non-residents. Two were from industry professionals located outside Moruya. Both were opposed.
When it was debated, councillors Sharon Winslade and Rob Pollock spoke against the motion. Councillor Anthony Mayne asked if the motion could be amended to incorporate a trial period to collect data about the impact of the primitive camping ground on existing caravan park operators.
Interim general manager Mark Ferguson said a trial period of at least five years would be needed.
Kathy Arthur, council’s director, community, arts and recreation services, said council could shut down the camping ground if there were any reports of antisocial behaviour. She said getting an understanding of the camping ground’s impact on existing caravan park operators was not part of the analysis they had done.
The proposal was carried by seven votes to two. The proposed camping fees will be on public exhibition for 28 days.
