Hervey Bay residents successfully protect Torquay caravan park

A popular waterfront caravan park in regional Queensland has been saved from demolition after a council vote and significant public opposition.

The Fraser Coast Regional Council on Wednesday voted six-four to keep the Torquay Caravan Park in Hervey Bay, about three hours north of Brisbane.

Last year the council unanimously chose to suspend an $8-million upgrade on the caravan park.

At the time councillor Zane O'Keefe said the park took up valuable space along Hervey Bay's seaside esplanade, which should be accessible to the public.

Two alternative uses for the site were proposed, including open parkland and a playground.

But the proposals led to a fierce public outcry.

The community group Save Our Torquay Caravan Park launched a petition calling for the council to reconsider its decision.

It garnered more than 12,000 signatures.

A council survey attracted 4,385 responses — the highest number, it said, from any community engagement process.

Seventy-six per cent preferred to retain the caravan park.

People power 'the strongest factor'

Loud claps and cheerful shouts could be heard once the motion was handed down during the meeting.

Mayor George Seymour said the large community turnout showed the importance of the issue to residents, who valued their "beachside lifestyle" and being "in each other's company".

He said the council would prepare a strategy to improve the caravan park's facilities for future generations.

"It's good to see the question settled so we can get a move on and get those upgrades in place," Cr Seymour said.

Sue Brooks, who served as a councillor for six years and was one of the people leading the charge to retain the caravan park, felt "immense relief" and "sheer happiness" after hearing the outcome.

Ms Brooks said it would not have been possible if it was not for residents banding together.

"The community was unified from as far as Glenwood to Burrum Heads out to River Heads and Maryborough," she said.

"It was the strongest factor."

Ms Brooks said the caravan park provided economic benefits to local venues year-round.

"When the caravan parks are full, they [travellers] spend all their money at businesses throughout the region," she said.

"We want them to stay and we know that the people that come and use them want them to stay."

Population gaps

Councillor John Weiland was one of the four councillors who opposed the motion.

He said the vote represented the younger population, which favoured creating more parkland options in Hervey Bay.

"Given the need to actually attract those people to our region, I went with their choice," Cr Weiland said.

He said the council needed to make the seaside town a viable option for young people.

"It's about being able to serve our population and be sustainable as a community," Cr Weiland said.

Ms Brooks disagreed with the sentiment and said Hervey Bay was on track to attract a younger crowd.

"We have enough population to sustain specialist services and people with academic qualifications that want a career … which we haven't had before," she said.

Ms Brooks said elderly people moving to the area had provided a strong economic boost to Hervey Bay.

"If you walk around town anytime between nine til five, the cafes are full," she said.

"The people using the city aren't working, they're retired."