Premier Anna Bligh announced today that one of the State's oldest coastal camping grounds would be retained so Queensland families could continue to enjoy affordable beach holidays on the Sunshine Coast.

Ms Bligh travelled to Caloundra to personally deliver the news to residents and holiday-makers.

"The State-owned site of Caloundra's popular popular Tripcony Hibiscus Caravan Park - where the camping grounds date back to the late 19th century - will not be developed.  the Caravan Park is here to stay," Ms Bligh said.

"With Queensland family budgets under increasing pressure, ensuring low-cost holiday options remain available is more important than ever."

"When the cost of essential living items like groceries and fuel go up, family holidays can be the first thing to be sacrificed."

"I do not want to see Queensland mums and dads unable to take their kids for a beach holiday because accommodation costs are out of reach."

"Coatal caravan parks like Tripcony Hibiscus provide affordable facilities where families can enjoy what it means to be a Queenslander - the sun, the beach, the outdoors."

"Over 650,000 Queenslanders holiday at caravan parks around the State every year and for the families that come to Tripcony - one of our oldest coastal camping grounds - this tradition will continue."

Ms Bligh said this decision was in-line with her Government's commitment to retaining caravan parks on State-owned land for low-cost tourism.

Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace said the welfare of the 85 permanent residents at Tripcony Hibiscus was also paramount to the decision to keep the Park.

"Many of the residents here are elderly and physically and financially unable to move elsewhere."

"They have lived here for many years.  This is their home and now they have certainty that it will stay that way."

"We will offer the current lessee of the site a new 30-year lease for caravan park purposes, so Tripcony Hibiscus Caravan Park will be here to stay for many years to come," he said.

The Park was under threat given its high value coastal location and the Queensland Government and former Caloundra City Council undertook a Master Plan to consider the future use of the site.

This work examined whether the Park could be relocated to make way for development options including various mixes of open space and commercial/residential uses.

Mr Wallace said the development of the 3.8 hectare site hinged on identifying a suitable alternative for the Park.

"While the value and location of this spectacular site certainly lent itself to development, the interests of the permanent residents was paramount to the final decision."

"The Master Plan was not able to identify alternative accommodation for the residents, and closing the Park would have exacerbated the shortage of affordable housing in the Caloundra area, which was a key factor in the Bligh Government deciding to keep the Park." he said.

The current lease expires in November 2009.  The new lease will specifically state the site cannot be converted to private freehold and that a minimum 50 percent of the caravan park must be used for tourist accommodation.

Ms Bligh said the new lease would also include an easement to enable Sunshine Coast Regional Council to complete a link in the Coastal Walk that stretches along the seafront of the Caloundra region.

"The Council raised its desire to fill the 'missing link' in the Coastal Walk between Leach Park and Tripcony Lane."

"Currently, people enjoying the gorgeous walk have to detour around the perimeter of the caravan park, but the new lease will allow for a small easement on the sea-side of the site to enable the council to complete the walk," he said.

Media: 3224 4500 (Premier's office) or 3869 3869 / 0407 131 654 (Minister Wallace's office)