Providing seasonal worker accommodation might help smooth out the ebbs and flows in demand at the Clyde Camping ground over summer, the Vincent Community Board heard yesterday.
Board members discussed a report on the history, status and possible future for the camping ground, which comes under the auspices of the Central Otago District Council.
Seasonal accommodation was one option, but it was important for any accommodation of that sort to be self contained in a separate area of the camping ground, away from where caravans and tents were based, facility manager Ken Direen told the board.
''The last thing we want to do is upset our regulars, who have been coming to the camp for generations,'' he said. Having some accommodation for seasonal workers might boost patronage throughout summer.
''There was a peak of demand over the Christmas break and it tapered off by January 20 through until Easter. Although some seasonal workers used the facility now, ''there's not as many as we'd like'', he said.
''We're not looking at getting 30-50 seasonal workers. Less than 20, around 12 to 15 people for the season, would be very good for us.''
It was no good building a lot of accommodation for seasonal workers only to have it vacant for the rest of the year, Mr Direen said.
''We don't want to create a shantytown.''
Although the camping ground welcomed cycle tourists, it was difficult to get patrons from the nearby Otago Central Rail Trail, he said. The rail trailers were generally aged between 40 and 55 and wanted comfortable accommodation, so cabins with en suites were needed.
''Often they're dropped in Clyde to start the trail or picked up from here at the end, so they don't always stick around.''
