A planning dispute involving glamping accommodations at NRMA Bright Holiday Park has renewed calls from Australia’s outdoor hospitality sector for clearer planning regulations governing alternative accommodations in Victoria.
Four luxury safari tents installed at the holiday park in Bright have been ordered removed after Alpine Shire Council determined the structures should be classified as buildings rather than temporary structures. The decision follows a planning process that has spanned nearly five years, despite the installation initially receiving local approval.
According to industry representatives, each safari tent cost between A$80,000 and A$100,000 to install. The accommodations remained unused throughout the planning dispute and will now be relocated to another state after an unsuccessful planning appeal by NRMA.
The case has prompted renewed discussion among industry organizations about the need for statewide planning guidance for glamping developments. Caravan and Residential Parks Victoria (CRPV) said Victoria is currently the only Australian state without legislated planning provisions specifically addressing glamping accommodations, resulting in varying interpretations of existing regulations by local councils.
Leon Juffermans, founder of glamping accommodation supplier GlamXperience, told ShortTermRentalz that the absence of consistent planning rules has created uncertainty for developers, operators, and investors considering glamping projects across the state.
Juffermans noted that similar safari tent accommodations have received approvals and been installed in several other Victorian destinations, including Phillip Island, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Inverloch, and along the Great Ocean Road, illustrating how planning decisions can differ between municipalities.
Gary Anderton, general manager of tourist parks at Caravan and Residential Parks Victoria, said the industry believes clearer planning guidance could encourage additional tourism accommodation projects in regional communities.
He said: “Improving glamping opportunities will attract new visitors, boost Victorian manufacturing and unlock millions of dollars in private investment across regional Victoria.”
NRMA confirmed that the safari tents have been well received at its holiday parks in other parts of Australia but acknowledged that the accommodations at Bright will be removed following the outcome of the planning appeal.
The planning dispute comes as the Victorian government works to develop updated guidance for glamping accommodations, tiny homes, and other alternative accommodation structures located in caravan parks and on private land. The updated guidance is expected to be released later this month.
For business owners across the outdoor hospitality, caravan park, RV park, and glamping sectors, the Bright case highlights the importance of confirming how local planning authorities classify alternative accommodations before investing in new developments.
While glamping continues to represent a growth opportunity for many operators seeking to diversify their accommodations and attract new guest segments, differing interpretations of planning regulations can affect project timelines, capital investment, and operational planning.
Industry groups argue that standardized guidance could provide greater certainty for operators, local governments, and investors considering future projects throughout Victoria.
The outcome of the Bright Holiday Park case is likely to remain a point of reference as the industry reviews the Victorian government’s forthcoming planning guidance. Operators and developers will be watching whether the updated framework provides clearer definitions and approval pathways for glamping accommodations and other emerging lodging formats across the state.