Expansion

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 36

Expansion

One of New Zealand’s biggest motor camps, the Tahuna Beach Holiday Park, has shrugged off the downturn in tourism this year to maintain a long tradition of continual upgrading and extension of its facilities.

The camp manager, Mr Barrie Lane, said more than $120,000 had been spent on improvements this year, working largely from revenue.

He said the holiday park could be proud of the achievement, given the substantial downturn in tourism because of the high value of the New Zealand dollar and the competing attractions of Expo in Australia. Significant among the new developments has been the installation of effluent disposal facilities for camper vans, something which has been called for throughout New Zealand by environmentalists. Mr Lane said the holi-

day park’s board of control decided it was something for which there was a growing need and on which it should take the initiative.

Other developments have been the construction of a new motel laundry block, complete renovation of an amenities block and the installation of a new telephone system which has seen all the four star motel units in the complex get their own telephones. Another telephone development has been the installation of an automatic dialling link to the Picton ferry terminal for the benefit of travellers from the North Island seeking to make reservations.

The holiday park provides two, three and four star motel accommodation as well as serviced and unserviced camping sites and Mr Lane said this has made the camp well suited to cater for low budget conventions. Part of the future building programme will be aimed at increasing this business with the erection of a small convention centre within the park.