Uralla Shire Council will inject $22,000 to keep the caravan park running

Councillors have voted to inject $22,000 into the facility to keep it going, despite no knowledge of the financial benefits of taking on the park.

Some councils have taken caravan parks on to their detriment, Cr Natasha Ledger said.

“But, we could make a go of it,” she said.

The council has no historical financial information or guest records, and there are safety issues with hot water, signage and laundry.

Two new heat pumps, making sites that previously had cabins safe, new signage, fitting out the kitchenette, a coin operated washing machine and dryer will be purchased.

And, the $22,000 outlay doesn’t include the cost to council for labour and utilities.

Council staff have been operating the park, and it will be renamed the Queen Street Uralla Caravan Park.

Cr Levi Sampson said he thought council could use the opportunity to its advantage.

“If we position it to lease it in the future or operate it ourselves it needs to be done either way, personally I lean more toward something council can make money on in the future if that’s a possibility,” he said.

“I just want to move forward with it, hopefully we can get some more numbers and see where we can progress.”

Five permanent residents live on the property, at an income of around $2200 a month.