In a sign of a dawning tourism boom on the back of a $27m mountain bike trail, a new caravan and camping park could soon provide year-round camping in the Pioneer Valley. DETAILS
The Pioneer Valley Agricultural Show Society lodged an application this month to build out a tourist park at the Finch Hatton Showgrounds with 25 powered sites and 20 unpowered sites for caravanners and campers drawn to the lush farming region for its natural beauty and mountain biking.
“Due to new developments occurring within Finch Hatton, specifically the mountain bike trail head development, a need has been identified for short term tourist accommodation within the township,” the application document states.
The Pioneer Valley Agricultural Show Society lodged an application this month to build out a tourist park at the Finch Hatton Showgrounds with 25 powered sites and 20 unpowered sites for caravanners and campers. The blue dots above represent the location of electrical facilities for powered sites. Picture: Contributed
In April, Mackay council voted to approve stage 1 of the 100km bike trail with tenders to deliver 13.5km of trails as well as a trail head pump track at Finch Hatton.
Documents lodged for the proposed tourist park state an on-site caretaker will accept bookings daily between 7am and 6pm and will service and monitor the site at all hours.
Facilities will include six showers, a urinal, seven toilets and a laundry with washing machines.
Finch Hatton seen from the air. Picture: Heidi Petith
An information noticeboard will be located in the laundry.
The document also states short term accommodation will be available to tourists for a maximum of 14 days and tourist camping will not be allowed during organised events, for example the Pioneer Valley Agricultural Show.
Last week, the council approved an expansion of the caravan park at 2 Headland Dr in Haliday Bay.
The beachside golf resort now has approval for 26 RV sites.