Southend Tourist Park resumes in time for school holidays

After nearly 12 months of closure, a popular caravan and campground in the small coastal town of Southend in South Australia has reopened in time for the school holidays.

Southend Tourist Park in regional South Australia closed in late 2020 to allow local council to undertake renovations before reopening with new managers.

The Wattle Range Council had planned to reopen the site in February.

The community or council was unaware that the on-site infrastructure and coastal erosion would cause long delays.

One of the site’s managing directors, Claire Hubbard, said it was a “relief” to come to this.

“We are really excited to finally reopen,” she said.

Ms Hubbard said the unexpected delays caused great anguish for everyone involved.

“It’s frustrating to be honest.

“For [us as] the new managers and the board as well, because they also didn’t realize how long it was going to take, â€she said.

Ms Hubbard said there were many reasons for the delays.

“We had delays with the lease, as well as all the delays on site with the engineering.

“Most of the underground work was tricky.

Happy vacationers

Ms Hubbard said it was positive the site was ready for the September school break, which begins this weekend for students in South Australia.

“I hope we can make some vacationers very happy,†Ms. Hubbard said.

“We don’t really know how many people we’re going to pass through and decide to stay.

“We already have quite a few reservations, especially for the October long weekend.”

“I have just been delighted”

Ms Hubbard said it was also a relief for the Southend community to see the site reopen.

“It seemed like such a long process for anyone who saw it all happen – and watched stages where it seemed like nothing was happening,†Ms. Hubbard said.

“Especially the last couple of months that we’ve been allowed to put up the barbecue area and the office… it’s really starting to feel like it’s happening now.

Passenger benefits

Ms Hubbard said she hoped having a caravan and campground for overnight travelers would bring economic benefits to the city.

“We have John [at] the general store, she said.

“He obviously has a lot of local support around town – we’re a pretty tight-knit community in Southend – but without this passing business he’s really suffered.”

She said summer tourism is a big boost for the city.

“During the summer you really have to capitalize on the tourists who are coming in,†Ms. Hubbard said.