A DUMP point, more undercover areas and affordable site fees are all Lake Canobolas needs to make it more attractive for owners of motorhomes and campervans.
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But first the council needs to open up the area for caravanners to stay overnight.
That’s the view of Golden West Wanderers president Ray Jackson who along with 38 fellow wanderers, all members of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA), set up camp at the lake over the weekend.
It’s the third year the group have stayed at the lake, after gaining five-year permission from Orange and Cabonne councils.
This year the group gave council a $280 donation to stay and campers are also covered by their own $10 million public liability insurance.
Mr Jackson said council staff visited the group on Saturday to seek input into what facilities the grey nomads would like to see at the lake.
Top of the list is a larger undercover area with the occupants of the 22 vans on-site crowded under one small barbecue shelter over the weekend.
But one of the most crucial wants is a sewerage dump point, which Mr Jackson believes would bring more travellers to Orange.
“We can organise that through the CMCA so it would cost the council nothing,” he said.
“The sewerage line is already there and with 60,000 members in the CMCA it would attract a lot more people.”
Orange currently has a caravan dump point behind the Shell service station on the Mitchell Highway, but Mr Jackson said many caravanners were reluctant to turn off the main road to access the site.
Better parking for motorhomes in town is also on the wish list and would make it easier for travellers to shop in Orange.
With most wanderers owning self-contained motorhomes, he believes only small improvements such as better amenities blocks are needed at the lake.
“Don’t call it a caravan park,” he said.
“You’ll have all these restrictions and you’ll knock the price up by $40 a night.”
Although some travellers may prefer powered sites, Mr Jackson said for most it was not essential.
The group’s suggestions echo those of the backpackers that were among the first campers to take up residence in the new camping area at the lake earlier in the month.