Community
22 May, 2026
Have your say on holiday parks
SURVEY responses from over 850 guests have helped to shape the draft Warrnambool Holiday Parks Strategic Plan, and now the Warrnambool City Council is seeking broader public input.
The draft plan will guide the future of the council-run Surfside and Shipwreck Bay holiday parks.
Council’s foreshore holiday parks have been a destination for locals and travellers since informal camping started in the early 1900s.
According to acting Warrnambool mayor Cr Matt Walsh, the parks are vital assets to the city.
“Surfside is an enormous part of what makes Warrnambool’s foreshore so unique,” he said.
“You just need to look at an aerial photo of Lady Bay to see just how much importance we place on providing so much space for camping and caravanning.
“There aren’t too many other places where you can camp right on the beach with amenities like Lake Pertobe, Flagstaff Hill and the Deep Blue Hot Springs at your doorstep and a regional city centre a few minutes’ walk away.
“So as good as the location is, what we’re looking at with this plan is what can we do over the next decade to meet the changing needs of visitors.
“This could be making room for larger vans and vehicles, and looking at new accommodation types such as larger cabins to suit family groups, as well as glamping options.
“It also means making sure more people can enjoy a stay at Surfside, including people with mobility challenges, and any new cabins would have accessibility front of mind.
“The plan also looks at how ageing infrastructure, including the camp kitchen and amenities blocks, could be improved to better serve guests into the future.”
You can read the draft Warrnambool Holiday Parks Strategic Plan and make a submission at www.yoursaywarrnambool.com.au.
Hard copies are also available at the Civic Centre, 25 Liebig Street.
