Campers wishing to attend a future Parkes Elvis Festival will have another option of where to stay in town following the approval of a temporary caravan park at a local school.
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The temporary caravan park won't be ready in time for this year's festival, with plans of it going ahead in 2021 and the agreement is in place until 2029.
A development application was tabled at Parkes Shire Council's December 17 meeting, requesting to establish 34 temporary, self-sufficient caravan sites on Holy Family Primary School grounds during the Elvis Festival from 2021 to 2029.
Four of the sites will be powered.
The application consisted of 20 conditions, with council receiving an objection from a nearby neighbour upon notification of the development.
Acting Planning and Environment Director Howard Orr said all operational aspects of the temporary camping ground will be managed by Holy Family School.
"The objection is based on the potential for increased noise generated from the development having adverse impacts on neighbours, and safety and security concerns for the campers and neighbouring land owners," Mr Orr said.
"It is assessed the proposed development will not have any adverse impacts on neighbouring land owners given there are a range of similar land-uses existing in the locality including a permanent caravan park and a hotel/restaurant.
"The camping sites are adequately separated from residential land uses via High Street, Albert Street and Victoria Street and conditions of consent will be imposed on the operation of noise-generating activities during night time periods, which the applicant will be required to monitor."
The school's canteen will be available for breakfast from Thursday to the Sunday and the hall open with air conditioning and a TV.
Mr Orr said the applicant had proposed a range of site security and safety measures, which include sufficient spacing between caravan sites, the use of lighting and fencing to control access, with the main entry for vehicles to be in Albert Street.
Also included in the 20 conditions is a noise curfew, with generators and other noisy equipment and activities only permitted between 7am and 10pm, and any activities associated with the temporary caravan park will be restricted to two days before and after the Elvis Festival.
It was suggested in the report that the fencing be fitted with a screen or shade cloth for privacy but Councillor Kenny McGrath raised his concerns, saying windy conditions could blow it over onto caravans.
"That's probably something that's really not required...because the caravan park across the road doesn't have a shade cloth on the fence and it would make the panels safer to stand up," he said.
There was also a discussion around condition 14, the noise curfew, between the councillors, with Cr Bill Jayet concerned about 40-plus degree days.
He asked if the caravan users know there will be no shade and they will have to turn their generators off.
"...I certainly wouldn't want to be in a caravan after 10 o'clock after a 45-degree day and is that being fair to those caravaners? Cr Jayet said.
Mr Orr said that condition 14 is consistent with common noise restrictions and that people were choosing to stay in their caravans in the hot weather.
"I would tend to agree with you Cr Jayet, it could be hot in a caravan but they are certainly putting themselves up for that... and it's certainly probably not a lot of difference to the tents up on Northparkes Oval," he said.
Mr Orr also said he would be happy to remove the shade cloth requirement.
Cr Barbara Newton and Cr Neil Westcott believed it was a great opportunity for Holy Family School.
"They're just across the way from Spicer [Caravan Park] so I can't see much difference in noise," Cr Newton said.
"They sort of compliment each other."
All councillors were unanimously in favour of approving the application, subject to the conditions.
For visitors needing a place to camp, there are campsites still available in Parkes for this year's festival. People can call the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on 6862 6000 for more information.
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