Park stakeholders were critical of the potential upheaval of construction, the number and high density of new buildings, loss of ambience and lack of communication on the project.

“This proposal might be okay in Mandurah but it’s not acceptable in Augusta,” one stakeolder said.

“Now we are faced with an ongoing nightmare in which we can’t sell our caravan because of the uncertainty of possible relocation and the likelihood of major construction going on for up to five years.”

“Turner Caravan Park has been the camping heart of Augusta for

more than 100 years,” another said.

“Now a cash hungry Council springs this economic masterpiece on us

in mid-winter when half our town’s population is unavailable for comment.

“This is sneaky to say the least.”

A permanent resident of the park, who did not wish to be named, told The Mail she and three semi-permanent residents would have to relocate their caravans and solid annexes under the proposed development.

For her, this would include putting down new concrete, new floor tiles, hiring an electrician and reconnecting to deep sewerage.

“I realise the park needs to have chalets, but they don’t know if they’re going to be successful,” she said.

“I think we’re all still in shock.”

Two people at the meeting said they did like the plan in its current form, but the timing of its release and the time provided for response could have been better.

Leeuwin Ward Cr Mike Smart defended the timing.

After the meeting, he said there was a reluctance for change in both Augusta and Margaret River.

“There were people who were worried it was being rushed through,” he said.

“But Council would be quite happy to extend the submissions period.

“The redevelopment proposal will give benefits to the park.

“We realise the impact on the permanent residents, we met with them yesterday morning.

“There were issues, but Council expected that.

“There are people who don’t want any change.

“I’m sure Councillors will be supportive and (work) in a compassionate manner to reduce hardship.”

He said the park’s current revenue provided about $230,000 pa to the shire, some of which goes back to development of the park.

He said the new accommodation would ideally blend into the park’s environment.

“It could be one of the most beautiful caravan parks in WA,” he said.

The public meeting is expected to be the first since 1999 when the council of the time proposed to lease thepark for 40 years to a Perth-based developer.

After overwhelming local feelings against the move, the council scrapped its plan.

Last Thursday, Mr Holland said he thought the meeting went very well.

“The shire needs to go through this process and they’re certainly giving everyone the opportunity to give their opinion before making a decision,” he said.

“It’s a matter of getting everyone’s views.

“I think the main concerns were for the existing clients.”

Many caravan parks had simply been closed by shires, he said, and he was pleased the shire had offered some funding and an assistance program.

Among the report’s comments were that the park sites are non-uniform in size with considerable wasted space and under-utilisation, the roads are not well defined and could raise safety issues for children, while tourists,

semi‐permanent holiday vans and permanent residents are mixed throughout the site, allowing for potential conflict of lifestyles.

“The impact to existing clients is minimised by the staging of the redevelopment,” his report said.

”Existing long stay clients will be encouraged to relocate within the park by lower tariffs in semi-permanent and permanent zones” and natural attrition will reduce the number of relocations required over the staged term of the redevelopment.

“New semi‐permanent and permanent clients will be managed in accordance with the master plan.

A major consideration in proposing elements of the new product mix is the return on investment of the improvements and the financial ‘pay‐back’ period.

“The allocation of 10 per cent of total sites at Turner Caravan Park for chalets and cabins will result in a contribution of 33 per cent to total park revenue.

“Upon completion of the development and the caravan park achieving average occupancies in accordance with the benchmark occupancies for the South West region, Turner Caravan Park will achieve a revenue increase of 280 per cent over current levels and cash earnings before interest, depreciation and tax of 330 per cent.”