BESTBROOK Mountain Resort owners are putting the last two years behind them and looking ahead to the future after the Southern Downs Regional Council gave their expansion plans the long-awaited tick of approval yesterday.

The expansion plans include 80 extra campsites, 10 new self-contained units, hosting multiple festivals, a ropes course, bush golf, mountain bike riding and markets at the resort located on the Cunningham Highway.

Resort owners Ray and Elise Vincent have gone through countless council meetings, court appeals and mediation processes since submitting their application and yesterday's decision left them relieved.

"It is a relief to finally have a decision after two years," Mrs Vincent said.

"Over the next 12 months we will be able to start moving forward again."

The couple bought the resort close to 10 years ago.

"We have improved on it a bit each year, it is all about growing our business," Mrs Vincent said.

Of the long list of upgrades, Mrs Vincent said the top priority was increasing campsites.

"At the moment we have 14 campsites," she said.

"Camping has doubled over the last three years and we are hoping to add an extra 80 camping sites."

While the owners are satisfied with the way the council negotiated through changes to a number of conditions, they have not been able to avoid those set in place by the Department of Main Roads.

"Main Roads require us to put a turning lane into the property at our own expense," Mrs Vincent said.

"It is going to be very expensive."

But Mrs Vincent said they had not come this far to back out now.

"We have been trying for the last two years to get this approved; it gets to the point where you are too far in, we just have to keep moving forward," she said.

Mrs Vincent said they were well aware their big plans would not be put into place overnight.

"It is going to be a slow progression," she said.

After discussing the application on many occasions, councillors yesterday all gave the development the go-ahead.

Expansion plans:

•  Up to six festivals a year
•  Up to six markets a year
•  Ten new self-contained units
•  Additional 80 campsites
•  Wedding chapel
•  Horse riding
•  Trail bike riding
•  Tennis
•  Orienteering
•  Ropes course