State Member says closing Torquay Caravan Park risks $700m tourism economy

THE FUTURE of the Torquay Caravan Park remains one of the most hotly debated issues on the Fraser Coast, but according to Hervey Bay’s State Member David Lee, the community is virtually united in its opposition to any plan to close it.

“I have not met anyone who is in favour of closing the Torquay Caravan Park,” Mr Lee told the Hervey Bay Advertiser.

“From small business owners to long-time residents and visiting families, the message is the same: this park is central to the life of our region.”

Mr Lee, the son of small business owners and a former solicitor and CEO, also brings the perspective of someone who served as the Fraser Coast Regional Councilor for Division 9 (Torquay) from 2020 to 2024.

With this background, he says he has seen firsthand the critical role tourism plays in sustaining the Fraser Coast economy.

“Torquay thrives on its connection to tourism.

When people stay at the Caravan Park, they don’t just pay for a site, they pay for dinners at local restaurants, coffees in our cafés, tickets to attractions, fuel at our service stations, and groceries at local supermarkets. Every single night’s stay multiplies across our economy.”

This multiplier effect is borne out by industry research.

The Queensland Tourism Annual Report 2024 shows that nearly $700 million in direct revenue flowed into the Fraser Coast economy last year from tourism activity.

Around 3,000 people are employed locally in tourism and related industries. Caravan and camping stays make up a significant slice of that figure, with industry estimates suggesting that every night spent in a caravan park translates to between $90 and $120 spent in the surrounding community.

A family of four staying a week at the Torquay Caravan Park might inject close to $3,000 into the local economy before even factoring in tours to Fraser Island (K’gari), whale watching cruises, or fishing charters.

“When you add this up across the thousands of bed nights the park provides annually, you are talking about tens of millions of dollars directly linked to the local businesses that depend on these visitors.”

The risk to long-term recovery, Mr Lee warned, is particularly concerning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many businesses along the Esplanade struggled simply to survive.

“The same businesses that fought through lockdowns and years
of disruption are only just now regaining their footing.

To take away their backbone trade from the caravan park would be to pull the rug out from under them just as they are standing tall again.”

Unlike COVID, which was temporary and accompanied by government support, a permanent closure of the Torquay Caravan Park would represent an irreversible economic blow.

“If the park goes, nothing will replace the lost business. Once gone, those visitors will not simply reappear in another form.”

Looking to the broader tourism implications, Mr Lee said the park is essential to Hervey Bay’s appeal.

“Hervey Bay is marketed as a family-friendly, affordable destination. Caravan parks are central to that offering.

If you begin removing them, you change the character of the Bay. You risk becoming a place that is less welcoming to families, grey nomads, and budget travelers, the very groups who sustain us year-round.”

He pointed out that K’gari and whale watching are major drawcards, but accommodation choices are equally important.

“We cannot expect tourists to come for the whales or the island if they cannot find a place to stay that suits their budget and lifestyle.”

Mr Lee said that in conversations with numerous businesses along the Esplanade, both in Torquay and beyond, he has yet to find a single supporter of the park’s closure.

“The opposition has been overwhelming and, to date, uncontested,” he stressed.

"I’ve heard from hoteliers, publicans, tour operators, and retailers. They all say the same thing; closing the Torquay Caravan Park will harm their livelihoods."

For Mr Lee, the issue is not only about economics but also about identity.

“Hervey Bay has always been a place where families camp by the beach, grandparents bring their caravans, and friends gather for affordable holidays.

That’s our story, and Torquay Caravan Park is a living part of it.

To erase it would be to erase a piece of who we are.”