A MILLSTONE AROUND THE NECK: The showground caravan park is holding the showground back Peter Naylor says.
THE Colour City Caravan Park is holding the showground back and Orange City Council should prioritise plans to sell-off the park and pour the money back into the grounds, according to Orange Show Society president Peter Naylor.
Mayor John Davis said the council’s long term plan was to sell-off the caravan park as a business or the facilities such as the portable cabins on the site.
“It hasn’t been put in black and white but I suggest that the plan is within a five year period,” he said.
He said eventually the council will no longer own its own caravan park and selling it off would give the show more room.
Mr Naylor said the society needed the land to hold events and hoped to use it to expand the size of the main ring in future years.
“There was talk of putting the stables down [the caravan park] end then we can get back to the way it was years ago when the caravan park was the main gate,” he said.
“There has to be a private enterprise somewhere who’d put another caravan park in town if they called it for tender.
“I feel sorry for the [caravan park] residents because they’re going to be moved but it’s holding that showground back.”
My Naylor said as it stands the caravan park does not provide the showground with any money for upgrades.
He said more amenities were needed for the show and campdrafting and the caravan park’s existing facilities would be ideal.
“There is only one shower block for the whole showground because the one down near the stables is falling into disrepair,” he said.
Mr Naylor said re-establishing the caravan park entrance as the main gate to the grounds would offer more parking for show-goers.
“Because there is no parking along Leeds Parade it’s a nightmare every show,” he said.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au