mmg.com.au

Rochester Caravan Park received a new amenities block on Wednesday as the major part of its $1million flood restoration.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment Flood Recovery for Community Infrastructure Fund provided a $424,788 grant towards the project, while $150,000 was from an insurance claim relating to electrical infrastructure and cabin damage and Campaspe Shire, which manages the land, paid the balance.

The old amenities block and electrical infrastructure were damaged in the January 2011 flood and the park had been running on generator power until February.

The new amenities block includes fully disabled male and female change rooms, showers, toilets and a laundry.

Campaspe Shire project manager Brian Anderson said work on the block would be completed by November 21.

Power was reinstated at the park before the Easter holidays in April, along with the replacement of flood-damaged cables, switchboard and lights and an upgrade of the connection pillars.

The original manager’s cabin was replaced and access ramps installed in June.

A small children’s playground was installed at the park in August and new fencing was completed in September.

Campaspe Shire service review manager Keith Oberin said the park would also have 12 new caravan sites, which would include water, sewerage and power.

Some sites along the river on the western frontage within the river reserve will be relocated to the caravan park reserve and will also have power, water and sewerage, while roads within the park will be reinstated.

‘‘In agreement with the park lessee, these works will be undertaken after the summer season to minimise disruption,’’ Mr Oberin said.

A waste dump point site attached to the sewerage system will be fitted and is expected to be operating by the end of the month.

Mr Oberin believed this would be the first dump point site in the Rochester region.