Darwin Bowls and Social Club plans to develop a RV park next to the current club site in Fannie Bay, with a capacity for 40 vans to be established in three-stages, plans lodged with the government show.

The NT News first reported the plans had been lodged with the Development Consent Authority, and show the park would have capacity to accommodate up to 40 RVs on the western end of the club’s land at 8 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay.

The application, which is seeking an exceptional development permit, shows the existing bowls club occupies 53 per cent of the land, or 1.4 hectares, and the proposed RV park would occupy the remaining 1.2 hectares which have been vacant for 65 years.

The document, written by Geoff Hunter, said the club was using clause 5.5.13 of the Northern Territory Planning Scheme which deals with caravan park as a basis for design.

However the cub said the requirements for an RV park are less onerous on the environment and require less amenities than a caravan park because RVs have self-contained showers, toilets, washing machines with grey and black water retention tanks, and have potable water tanks for cooking and domestic use, and solar panels and batteries for operating all contained services.

So there will be no ablution and laundry blocks or camp kitchens but there will be a sewage dump point with washing capacity.

The submission shows the site will eventually be surrounded by a 1.8-meter-high security fence with boom gates, and every RV parking site will be a grassed area with a three-meter landscaped buffer for shade and privacy, and while they will be un-powered initially, there are future plans for some sites to be powered by solar panels.

“The bowls maintenance team has been responsible for the maintaining the vacant land since 1960,” the document states.

“This includes mowing, tree trimming, landscaping etc. and the same team will be responsible for the proposed RV park.

“The Bowls club have on-site accommodation for the caretaker who provides 24-hour emergency assistance to the Bowls club and this will be extended to include the RV park.

“Developing the land into a RV park will reduce the number of itinerants and back packers that presently set up illegal camps on the site causing antisocial issues to the adjacent businesses, the Darwin High School and local residents.

Darwin Bowls and Social Club RV park site plan.

“The land is currently undeveloped and in a dilapidated state which is not helpful when the government and council are trying to promote the area as a tourist precinct.

“Developing the land as an RV park with substantial landscaping and business growth will lift the whole area and assist in its promotion.”

“With up to 80 tourists per day staying in the Fannie Bay area, there will be a beneficial increase in revenue to the adjacent clubs, restaurants, shops and the Museum.”

The Bowls club will be employing additional staff for management, gardening, cleaning and safety.

The plan was submitted with letters of support from the Trailer Boat Club, the Darwin Sailing Club, Saltwater@Bundilla cafe owner Gavan Keane, and Fannie Bay MLA Laurie Zio.

In 2023 Darwin Council proposed a trial of a 20-RV capacity park at Bundilla Beach, just a few hundred meters away from the Darwin Bowls and Social Club. The council was planning to seek expressions of interest from prospective operators but the plan was met by community backlash, with a survey conducted showing the majority of respondents in Darwin opposing the proposal, and it was killed off.

Shortly after the then-Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis made the announcement, newly elected, and now deposed Fannie Bay MLA Brent Potter, gathered over 170 signatures from local residents opposed to the plan.