Friday 26 October, 2012
Tamworth's Viaduct Park will be turned into a temporary camping ground for the first time during the 2013 Tamworth Country Music Festival after a development application was approved at this week's Tamworth Regional Council meeting.
Approval was given subject to more than 30 conditions regarding the set up of the 2.66 hectare site, such as the provision of amenities, waste management, regulation of traffic, creation of on-site parking, supply of potable water, installation of lighting and security arrangements.
Festival Village, as the temporary camping ground will be known, will provide 200 tents catering for up to 500 people for the whole 10-day festival and the week prior to the festival. It will be removed immediately after the festival ends.
The park - bounded by Peel, Macquarie and O'Connell streets - will offer tents set up and fully equipped for visitors - similar to an experience which has been tagged in the tourism industry as 'glamping' (glamour camping).
Central Coast-based company Rent a Tent will be supplying the tents for Festival Village. Its quotation was selected after Council sought quotations in September.
The development application, lodged by Council, was referred to councillors for determination after two written submissions were received raising concerns about competition against other temporary camping sites, the possible costs to ratepayers and potential traffic impacts.
A report tabled at Tuesday night's meeting said Festival Village is not expected to impact on accommodation previous offered at the annual festival.
'The campground is not in competition with other campgrounds, as they have a higher price point and are self-sufficient, unlike this ground where equipment (tents/beds) are provided,' the report said. 'People will spend an average of $45 per night for the Festival Village unlike the budget end of the other campgrounds.'
The report said that the operation of the tent village is expected to cover its own costs and 'hopefully return a profit' with no expenses to ratepayers.
Additional traffic movements are expected to be minimised through Festival Village guests being issued with wristband to use the special festival bus service. The report said it is expected many guests will use the bus or walk to the nearby CBD for festival events rather than use their cars.