Carnarvon Shire council approves plan for overflow campground to provide extra accommodation in Coral Bay

A plan to use an Indigenous pastoral station as a temporary overflow campground near the popular tourist destination of Coral Bay has been green lit by the Carnarvon Shire Council. The council approved the development application with conditions relating to Cardabia Station in a bid to resolve persistent accommodation shortages during peak tourism seasons in Coral Bay, as well as to allow more locals and visitors the chance to enjoy the Indigenous pastoral station. The new camping location will be the bare salt flat of the station’s former airstrip, which will provide space for up to 60 caravans to spread out over about 1.4ha. No native vegetation clearing will be required and existing access tracks will be utilised, while the approved proposal involves no additional infrastructure. All campers must be self-contained and supplied, including waste management. Overflow campers will have regular daily contact with a local camp host from Cardabia Station to provide aid, collect fees and ensure compliance with camping guidelines and rules. The council’s approval was contingent on safety and environmental health conditions, including a dump point for chemical toilet waste, the supply of at least one fire extinguisher and management in line with camping and caravan regulations. Cardabia Station is managed by the Baiyungu Aboriginal Corporation after it was handed back to the Baiyungu people in 1998. The plan coincides with the solar eclipse in April next week, during which Coral Bay will be one of the best places to view the spectacular event in full. An influx of visitors is expected to inundate the region, making the overflow campground a viable option for extra accommodation. Carnarvon Shire president Eddie Smith said the council was enthusiastic about the proposal and hopeful it would come to fruition. “This is an exciting opportunity for the region to host more visitors and provide increased economic benefits for local businesses to capitalise on increased potential tourists,” Cr Smith said. “The Shire of Carnarvon looks forward to supporting the development of the overflow campground, but we will need to make sure it meets safety and environmental health standards before proceeding.”