A SITE flagged for a tourist park in Lancelin will instead be a conservation reserve, a State minister has decided.
Planning Minister Donna Faragher determined the area will be a conservation reserve last month while modifying the local planning scheme.
In a statement released today, Shire of Gingin president David Roe said the minister modified the scheme on May 16 based on an amendment originally lodged to create a caravan park.
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READ NOW“This amendment was originally for the purpose of rezoning an area of land near Hopkins Street, Lancelin from tourist zone and parks and recreation reserve to special use zone for caravan park,” Cr Roe said.
“The Shire is continuing to work with State Government agencies on identifying a suitable site in Lancelin for a tourist accommodation park or caravan park.”
The Lancelin Tourist Park Support group on Facebook expressed disappointment over the decision.
“When coastal towns like ours are meant to be booming and moving forward Lancelin has once again been overlooked by the Govt. (sic) on this development,” it posted.
“This decision is a massive blow and injustice to the town.
“Our main tourist attraction is our sand dunes with bus loads visiting everyday, shame there isn’t anywhere for them to stay.”
Another group of ratepayers, Save Our Back Beach, campaigned against the developing the area into a caravan park because they felt it was not suitable for further development.
The Lancelin Coastal Plains CoastCare group welcomed the news on its Facebook page.
“This is a wonderful tourism opportunity for our town as the majority of tourists that come to WA are looking for the unspoiled natural environment,” it said.
“We now have a conservation reserve fronting our town, that is a pretty special drawcard.”