Sutherland Shire Council has supported in principle the idea of an eco-friendly caravan park in the Royal National Park.
The council has called for a report looking at the feasibility of establishing a caravan and camping ground within the Royal National Park at Bonnie Vale adjoining Bundeena.
Councillor Kevin Schreiber raised the matter in a notice of motion in one of his last acts on Sutherland Shire Council at the August 15 meeting.
Councillor Schreiber was asking the council to lend support to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to consider the eco park, as an extension to the existing camping at Bonnie Vale.
The site is National Parks and Wildlife Service land, so such considerations would be made at a State Government level.
Cr Schreiber originally asked that the council write to the Environment Minister Mark Speakman expressing the council’s support for the establishment of a caravan and camping ground at the Bonnie Vale site and asking that the Office of Environment and Heritage work with the council’s Economic Development and Tourism Sub Committee to realise this tourism initiative.
But his proposal was changed after debate.
Cr Peter Scaysbrook asked that an Environmental Impact Statement should be undertaken first.
He said a plan of management would need to be undertaken and an assessment made.
Cr Scaysbrook asked that a report come back to council on the environmental implications of the proposal.
He added that the way Cr Schreiber’s original motion was worded proposes that council supports this.
“I’m just asking that we clarify Cr Schreiber’s proposal.’’
The state government is considering doing an overall plan of management for the Royal National Park including initiating a range of initiatives to encourage more tourism in the park.
Ultimately, it is the Royal National Park’s land and up to them to carry out a feasibility study of what could happen in the area.
“It is National Park land, not ours,” Cr Kent Johns said. “They are the owners who have to run it and look after it.’’
Cr Peter Towell criticised the proposal.
“It’s just another way the state government has of commercialising and developing our national parks,’’ he said.
“Everything has got to be able to make a dollar instead of just enjoying it.’’
But Cr Schreiber said it would give residents a better chance to go there and enjoy themselves in a great part of the shire.
