Lake Narracan Caravan Park - Closure

The park will permanently close on 10 December 2022. No day visits or overnight stays will be permitted past this date.   

The foreshore, waterway and boat ramp with continue to remain open for day visitors.  

The licence fees associated with the 2022/23 financial year have not yet been submitted for invoicing to site holders. As such, Council will not be applying any fees for the financial year up until 10 December 2022, or any storage site fees until 30 April 2023.   

Council was made aware of concerns relating to the wastewater treatment system after significant levels of rain were received, causing an overflow of the treatment ponds located next to the caravan park into the waterway.   

Due to the serious nature of this incident and risk to public health, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) completed an inspection of the site.   

As a result of the inspection the EPA issued two Notice of Improvements to Council relating to stormwater and wastewater management at the caravan park.  

An extensive investigation process was undertaken by independent technical consultants to find solutions to the ongoing challenges caused by ageing wastewater infrastructure  

In addition, Council regularly pumped out wastewater from the storage ponds to ensure they did not pose a threat to environmental and public health.   

The independent technical consultants advised that when they finalised the stormwater modelling and progressed the detailed design of the pond upgrades, it became clear that retaining the existing ponds was not a viable option without significant investigation, expenditure, and risk.  To investigate the extent of the problem, parts of the park would need to be excavated, risking access to sites and potentially requiring infrastructure to be moved.  

The consultants have proposed an upgrade strategy at a cost of approximately $885,500.  

Council considered a range of options to address the compliance issues, including completing the works required on the site.  

It was recommended that the works could be funded over four years by increasing annual licence fees to approximately $6,700.   

This option was not seen as viable due to the progress of Lake Narracan Prescient Structure Plan, which identifies plans to relocate the Caravan Park within the next five years, making any investment a short-term one.   

Council has committed funding towards the develop a business case, for the future development of a destination caravan park, which has been identified within the Lake Narracan Precinct Structure Plan. Council believes there is a great investment opportunity at Lake Narracan, with the potential development of land identified in the Lake Narracan Precinct Structure Plan.  

The Lake Narracan Precinct Structure Plan (the PSP) has been prepared by Latrobe City Council and the Metropolitan Planning Authority in consultation with Government agencies, service authorities and major stakeholders. The PSP is a long-term plan for future development. It describes how the land is expected to be developed and how and where services are planned to support development.  

The Lake Narracan PSP area is generally defined by Lake Narracan along the northern and eastern boundary, Becks Bridge Road along the western boundary and Moe North Road (Old Sale Road) and the Moe Yallourn Rail Trail along the southern boundary  

The development of the Lake Narracan area is one of a number of initiatives that will assist in the long-term revitalisation and enhancement of the Moe and Newborough area. This project will also help reinforce Latrobe City as the regional capital of Gippsland.  

The future residential development of this area will retain the existing character of the lake foreshore, and provide for increased community access to the lake and creation of new recreational activities on and around the lake.  

The Lake Narracan area is characterised by undulating farmland, prominent stands of trees, views to the lake and the hills beyond, and several locations for recreation access to the lake.   

A continuous foreshore treatment comprising parkland, pedestrian/ cyclist paths and a foreshore road will be established along the southern side of the lake between Sullivans Track and Becks Bridge Road for the wider community to enjoy. Key road and open space links will be created to more directly link the centre of both Moe and Newborough with the lake. An extensive network of pedestrian and cyclist paths will be established throughout the precinct, linking to the heart of existing Moe and Newborough. New residential neighbourhoods will be established that take their identity from the existing areas of the lake   

Two new village centres will provide for the daily convenience shopping needs of new residents and visitors but support the Moe town centre as the major shopping destination of the area. The new village centres also offer the opportunity to establish cafes and restaurants adjacent to the lake for the wider community to enjoy.   

This area is also a suitable location for a holiday park offering short-stay accommodation for visitors to enjoy the amenity of the lake and the recreational activities that it offers. New employment will be created by the village centres, holiday park, primary school, community centre and home-based business.  

The developers of the land to the east of the caravan park presented to Councillors regarding the progress of the Lake Narracan Prescient Structure plan and the likely time for the construction of an additional waste pumping station to service their development   

The developers are entering the planning phase for the waste pumping station and are seeking a formal indication by the end of 2022, from Council on our intention to connect to the pumping station. The estimated cost to connect to this station is approx. $1.5 Million at present.  

Should Council wish to develop the land along the foreshore at any stage as per the LNPCP, it will need to commit and fund the $1.5 Million connection into the sewer pumping station.   

The Chief Executive Officer will write to the developers to confirm Council’s intention to connect to the wastewater pump station as soon as it is ready to be built. 

The caravan park is identified in the Lake Narracan PSP map below. 

All access will need to be pre-arranged with the Caretakers. This can be via text on 0409 010 854 or email lakenarracancaravanpark@gmail.com  with the date and time you anticipate entry will be required. Confirmation of the request will be provided within 24 hours.   

No overnight stays, including camping will be permitted at the Caravan Park or along the foreshore after 10 December 2022. The area will be regularly patrolled by Officers and security.   

Yes, Council will have skip bins on site from 10 December 2022 to 30 April 2023.   

Power will remain connected at the park until 30 April 2023.  Only portable toilets will be available for use from 10 December 2022 until 30 April 2023.

Yes, the Caretakers will be remaining on site even days per week. Access must be pre-arranged via text on 0409 010 854 or email lakenarracancaravanpark@gmail.com  with date and time entry will be required.  

f you do not remove all structures, equipment and belongings by 30 April 2023, as set out in your Licence Council may attend to removal and place all items in storage at your cost. After 60 days, the items will be deemed as abandoned and Council may dispose of them at your cost. Disposal includes sale where that is a possibility based on financial value of the item. Where an item is sold, any net proceeds remaining after deduction of Council’s costs of removing and disposing of all items for the Site, will be provided to you.  

If you have any difficulties organising for your items to be moved, Council will consider via writing special circumstances request for allowances post 30 April 2023