The Shire of Pingelly (Western Australia) is seeking an expression of interest for the acquisition of chalets at the shire’s caravan park to increase its capacity and improve facilities, a report said.
It follows after the council rejected a proposed glamping facility at the council’s meeting last month. They expressed concern about the security of glamping tents.
Despite efforts to boost tourism in the region with initiatives like the Driver Reviver program as well as Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Centre, the lack of accommodation is still an issue.
Instead, the council opted to construct accommodations at the caravan park according to the Shire’s master plan.
The Shire is looking for interested parties to buy chalets at the Pingelly Caravan Park for $120,000-$150,000 (AUD). “These two initiatives are similar in that they are for short-term accommodation funded through private investment. However, the result is different in that the chalets to be constructed will be vandal resistant and will be at the Pingelly Caravan Park as outlined in the master plan,” Shire chief executive Andrew Dover said.
“The discussion at the council meeting was to progress the Pingelly Caravan Park master plan through an expression of interest request for investment in chalet accommodation and then leverage this through grant funding to complete the overall master plan, including upgrade of the facilities, beautification of the park and provision of additional powered sites.”
Each investor will be the sole owner of their chalet and will receive the return after expenses from their investment.
Dover declared that it could assist in filling the accommodation gap in Pingelly.
“There is a lack of short-term accommodation in Pingelly, both for workers and visitors,” he said.
“The addition of more short term will allow workers and visitors to stay in town bringing economic growth by frequenting our local eateries, shops, and services.
“This … also provides opportunities for locals to responsibly invest in their region and support local jobs and local people.”
The Shire of Pingelly is taking exciting steps by offering chalets for purchase and considering eco-friendly amenities. This move showcases their dedication to enhancing tourism sustainably. It’s great to see a focus on enriching the visitor experience while boosting accommodation options. This initiative is a positive sign of progress in Pingelly, promising a brighter future for the community and its visitors.