New Owners have Big Plans for Timbertown Heritage Park

David and Alison Waite, the new owners of the Timbertown Heritage Theme Park near Port Macquarie, plan to expand the business, adding cabins and other accommodation.

Having complete their purchase of the 35-year-old park from the Wauchope Council, the Waite's now have big new plans for the treasured Wauchope attraction.

Future goals for Timbertown revolve around sustainability, beginning with the re-opening of the bakery within the next 12 months.

A Sydney-based town planning company has been contracted to prepare a development application for the onsite accommodation of 400 people, with David Waite advising that the development will include the building of cabins and dormitory-style accommodation, and maybe even a motel in the long run.

The father of three hopes to see more teenagers at the park, camps for school children, and a place for caravans and recreational vehicles to stop on their travels.

In five years, Waite wants Timbertown to be a "24/7 enterprise", stating "our long-term goal is to develop many of the outlying areas of the park.

"We must change if we are going to continue to grow and attract new markets.

"We want to appeal to all markets in different ways, and believe we have the room to do it."

Waite imagines the existing heritage-style buildings will be to Timbertown like the castle is to Disneyland.

A Council spokesperson stated that the sale of Timbertown as a heritage theme park was a great result "for the council and the community".

However, Waite said he was not "sure how or why council ran the park at a loss.

"We believe our first full 12 months of trading will come out with a cash-flow positive, not a negative."

He believes the key to success is to have as much control over what happens within the park as possible.

For more information go to www.timbertown.com.au

19th November 2010 - FORGET LEISURE: FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCE INDUSTRY

24th March 2010 - TIMBERTOWN HERITAGE PARK SOLD