Demand drives park expansion

ASHLEY Adcock is one of several Taroom locals benefiting from the resources boom in the northern Surat Basin.

The born and raised Taroom resident built the Dawson Valley Roadhouse 18 years ago and while he is making a good living out of fuelling up vehicles and feeding hungry customers, it is his foray into accommodation that is reaping some real rewards.

In 2001 the Adcocks saw an opportunity in accommodation for workers at the Scotia gas works and erected six ensuite cabins.

Demand for accommodation grew and in 2006 they added another two units.

And the housing squeeze in Taroom, triggered by coal exploration and an overflow of employees from the coal seam pipeline projects at Wandoan, encouraged the Adcocks to increase their stock from eight cabins to 11.

"We are fully booked out," Ashley said, "and could probably fill them twice over."

But despite the heavy demand for beds in the Dawson Valley town, and the fact he has approval to add a further three cabins, Ashley is not sure whether he will expand his operation.

"We have heaps of land and approval for three more cabins, but I'm not sure if we should go down that path," Ashley said.

He is not the only local cashing in on the boom.

The Taroom Caravan Park, which used to be owned by the council was sold to private enterprise. It is undergoing a facelift.

Work is under way installing cabins in the park and the Chinchilla-based owner wants to install additional cabins and van sites.