Kalaru Holiday Park, located about four kilometres west of Tathra on the New South Wales South Coast, has lodged a development application (DA) with Bega Valley Shire Council seeking to formalise 98 long-term lease sites within its existing footprint.
The 4.8-hectare (12-acre) park currently offers a mix of accommodation, including camping areas, caravan spaces, and self-contained cabins.
According to the DA, the 98 proposed long-term sites would be allocated from the park’s existing 182 total sites, which are presently divided into 48 long-term resident sites, 94 short-term spaces, and 40 campsites.
The proposal outlines that most of the new long-term sites would be situated in the park’s northern section.
Park owners state in the DA that, if approved, the change would “have positive social and economic effects and is in the public interest by enhancing the availability of affordable accommodation options.”
The documents also note that the development consent from 1994 placed no cap on the number of long-term sites, and that this proposal is “considered to be consistent with the original approval and represents a development that is substantially the same development for which development approval was determined.”
According to a report by AboutRegional, the long-term cabins would each be fitted with a minimum 4,200-litre water tank. If approved, the park would upgrade sewerage and water infrastructure to accommodate the additional long-term residents.
All proposed sites have vehicular access and parking, including two disabled parking spaces. The DA notes that any resulting increase in traffic would be “negligible” as the total number of sites in the park would not change.
Kalaru Holiday Park offers amenities such as a playground, swimming pool, toilets, showers, laundry services, and two dog-friendly cabins.
The application also highlights the potential benefit to regional workforce housing, stating that it would “allow further cabin stock within the park, which will be contributed towards affordable housing options for potential residents moving to the area and workers seeking accommodation for a predetermined period in the region.”
For other operators in the outdoor hospitality industry, the proposal illustrates how existing parks may reconfigure site use to tap into demand for long-term and workforce accommodation without expanding their physical footprint.
It also reflects a broader industry trend of parks balancing tourism and residential demand to improve year-round occupancy and revenue stability.
Bega Valley Shire Council is currently considering the application, registered under DA 1061/1994. No decision date has yet been announced.