Mayor Cheryl Cook acknowledged Reflections for their detailed work and said it was an important step to further progress the park’s future management and redevelopment.
The Council will now move to the next stage of the process by inviting expressions of interest from the market for the long-term lease and operation of the facility.
Cr Cook said that as the Council and the community were very eager to move the matter forward, considering the park had sat undeveloped for many years, the decision was made to undertake a broader market approach allowing the Council to fully explore the best possible long-term outcomes.
“Ball Park Caravan Park sits in a prime Murray River location and when developed will become of our region’s most iconic tourism assets, and a very important economic driver for Corowa especially,” she said.
“Because of this, Council has a responsibility to ensure we carefully consider all options for its future management and redevelopment, in order to select the best approach.”
“By seeking expressions of interest for a 30-year lease, Council will be able to assess the level of market interest and the range of opportunities available from other park development and management companies, as this has never been done before.”
Cr David Harrison spoke against this week’s motion about the tendering process, which he said needed to be rescinded as it doomed Sanger St traders to possibly years of no action on Ball Park.
“Last week, right at the point of getting a new management group in … off we go down the expressions of interest group again,” Cr Harrison said.
“Item 4 of the motion shows that we haven’t even asked the Minister for permission to tender a suitable lease time yet, and there’s no guarantee we’ll even get that.
“From where I stand, we’ve thrown away the opportunity to have a proven management group, with great ideas, that were suitable for the park, on the ground in three months.”
Cr Pat Bourke disputed Cr Harrison’s premise that no-one had ever come forward.
“We have never gone out to the public, we’ve never put it out there,” Cr Bourke said.
“This will be the first time we’ve gone out and asked for expressions of interest.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to get the best, not just the first person to come along.”
Deputy mayor, Cr Rowena Black sided with Cr Harrison and questioned how many locals Cr Bourke had spoken to.
“People are disappointed; they were excited about the possibility of someone stepping into this park and moving ahead really quickly,” she said.
“The next summer holidays were looking hopeful and now we don’t know the length of time this is going to take.
“It will take months and I can’t tell you how discouraging it is for local businesses in Corowa.”
Cr Schoen said he had initially voted in error to go with Reflections proposal.
“I don’t believe that was a very exciting presentation,” he said.
“If you don’t have any other offers to measure it against, then you could not be making the best decision for the town.”
Councillors authorised the general manager to seek Expressions of Interest for the proposed contract and will receive a further report in the May council meeting to consider whether they wish to invite tenders from the applicants deemed best capable.
An application will be made to seek approval of the NSW Government for a 30-year lease for the Ball Park Caravan Park.
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