By JOLENE OGLE
FROM chemotherapy patients to holiday-makers to those looking for an affordable way to visit family, business is booming at the Cooroy No Worries RV stop with a wide variety of people putting the site to use.
Owners John Morrow and Irene Zendher bought the land on Holts Road as a nursery and have worked to convert the space to a recreational vehicle (RV) stop, offering up to four nights stay.
“We certainly couldn’t have done this without the support of (Noosa mayor) Noel Playford and (councillor) Sandy Bolton,” John said.
The RV stop opened in December last year and is the only stop of its kind between Caboolture and Gympie, which means business is growing fast for John and Irene.
Irene said she and John, a former dairy farmer, decided to start No Worries as a way of indulging their hobbies.
“We both love to garden and we love to be social,” Irene said. “We have people coming from all over Australia including Western Australia, and lots of people from South Australia.”
But what started as a personal project has fast become a necessity for many locals and visitors.
John said with a lack of low-cost holiday accommodation in the local area, it was common for people to travel from out west and use the RV Stop as a base while they undergo chemotherapy treatment or other specialist treatments at Noosa and Nambour Hospitals.
“A lot of people ring up from inland, and they want to know if they can stay,” he said.
“Then once they have a booking they make their appointments with the specialists.”
Travellers are also using the stop as a place to park their RV or caravan while they visit family and friends in the local region.
“There’s nowhere for them to park in town or in Noosa, so they come here, leave their van and then go to stay with friends and family,” John said.
Carol Lloyd is a local Noosa resident and a regular visitor to the No Worries stop, using the site to test her equipment before she and husband, Lou, set off to travel around Australia.
“We’re very excited,” she said.
“We’ve been planning this for 25 years and we can’t believe its happening.”
Carol said she used No Worries RV stop because of the open space, low cost and security.
“I feel so safe and secure here,” she said.
“And you can stand with your arms open wide and not touch another single thing. There is so much open space.”
Irene said she and John enjoy a “very broad range of people” staying at the No Worries RV stop from “grey nomads” to those visiting hospital, and for only $5 per person per night, it’s no surprise the RV stop is only getting busier.
But John said there needs to be more for people who are looking for low-cost accommodation.
“It’s obviously needed,” he said.
“I’m dead against free parks because I don’t think rate payers should pay for other people’s mess and toilets facilities, but there are a lot of pensioners who can’t afford $50 to $60 a night for accommodation.”
Cooroy No Worries RV stop is located at 154 Holts Road. Phone John or Irene on 0427 006 018 for more information.
