Otways campground gets big upgrade

HOLIDAYMAKERS are now enjoying better facilities at campgrounds and caravan parks in the Otways and elsewhere across Victoria thanks to state government upgrades.

Between now and 2023, 30 new campgrounds are being built and 30 existing sites are being upgraded in the $105 million Great Outdoors program, with more than $1 million in works now complete.

One of these is the Hammonds Road North Campground in the Otways, which received new toilets, firepits, parking bays and native vegetation planted by Forest Fire Management Victoria staff in the $175,000 package of works.

The upgrades are expected to double visitation to the campground, located south of Wensleydale, to 20,000 people annually.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio visited Hammonds Road North Campground to announce a second round of caravan and camping grant recipients, with 19 sites across regional Victoria to share in more than $2 million for improvement projects.

“It’s great to see families now back enjoying affordable camping and caravan holidays and these upgrades will help to make their experiences even more memorable,” she said.

“This is a great boost for our regional towns when they need it most – creating local jobs while attracting more visitors through improved facilities.”

The grants include funding to increase all ability amenities at Horsham Riverside Caravan Park, Wycheproof and Warracknabeal Caravan Parks, environmentally-friendly upgrades to Grampians Gate Caravan Park and Recreation Reserve and for landscaping and interpretive signage at La Larr Bar Gauwa and Warburton Caravan Parks.

This latest round of grants builds on more than $2.5 million already provided to 25 projects in April last year to improve the visitor experience.

The new Stockman’s Campground in the Big Desert State Forest has also been completed following a $300,000 investment allowing visitors to explore the network of four-wheel drive tracks available throughout the area.

In Gippsland, a $500,000 investment delivered a new campground as part of the Thomson River Canoe Trail and the popular Blue Pool campground has reopened following upgrades.

More than $280,000 in upgrades have been completed at sites including Eskdale Caravan Park and Walwa Riverside Caravan and Camping Reserve in the north-east, Corinella Foreshore Reserve in Gippsland, Gordon Park Caravan Park at Charlton, Kennett River Holiday Park and Kywong Caravan Park in the south-west.