Case Studies
Gordon Camping Ground Expansion
Design Feature
Type of project
Placemaking
State
Tasmania
Location
Rural
Gordon Camping Ground is in a rural setting on the banks of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel within the municipality of Kingborough. With the increasing prevalence of mobile homes and large camping vehicles, particularly for older travellers, camping sites and associated amenities are becoming more popular.
Camping in style
In response to feedback from users, the camping ground was expanded in 2016 by the Kingborough Council and South Channel Ratepayers Association. As the camping ground is leased from the Tasmanian State Government by the Council, all improvements required their approval and had to comply with an Aboriginal Heritage report commissioned to ensure there was no interference with artefacts.
The significant local knowledge of the South Channel Ratepayers Association helped inform the expansion project's design process. The project included :
- A day visitor centre
- Improved signage and bollards to help segment visitor parking spaces
- Information notice board
- Access to power for charging electronic equipment
- New facilities such as a barbeque, toilets and black water dump facilities
- Relocation of picnic tables and more seating
- Gravel paths and landscaping
- Exercise station and play equipment for guest enjoyment.
The community facility now acts as an active destination that provides a sense of place for visitors by acknowledging the cultural history of the area.
Project team
- Kingborough Council (leasee)
- South Channel Ratepayers Association (site managers)
- Tasmanian State Government (landowners)
Project Cost
$89,548
Health Value
- Gordon Camping Ground offers health value by providing travellers and rural based residents opportunities for exercise which they can otherwise miss.
- The provision of equipment has enabled residents and guests to safely play and participate in regular weight bearing at their own pace.
- An unintended consequence of the establishment of the day visitor centre has been residents meeting, going for walks and using the exercise station daily.
Economic value
- The upgrades to the Gordon Camping Ground has increased visitation to the area offering economic value.
Environmental Value
- Gordon Camping Ground offers environmental value by enhancing the play space using sustainable materials and incorporating greenery into the landscaping.
Social Value
- Gordon Camping Ground offers social value through significant interaction with members of the South Channel Ratepayers Association during the design and construction phase. This had a positive outcome for developing social capital, resilience, empowerment and capacity of community members. The SCRA members continue to use the site as a meeting place which increases their engagement with the users of the site.
- Community cohesiveness is built through residents meeting at the day use centre where there is the opportunity to exercise, talk, eat and take their dogs for a walk with others, which previously did not happen.
- Conversations between visitors and locals are opened when accessing adjoining barbeque and exercise facilities.
- Residents visiting the site on a regular basis improves community safety and discourages anti-social behaviour.
Use Value
- Gordon Camping Ground offers use value by sectioning camping spaces so larger vans and mobile homes are separated from smaller vans and campers. This has opened the site to greater community use of the day use area where the enhanced facilities have increased the site’s popularity.
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