General News
8 September, 2021
Caravan residents given marching orders
DWELLING owners hopeful of being granted a last-minute reprieve or lengthy extension to permanently remain at a local caravan park have been dealt a heavy blow with Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) reiterating its position that residents must exit in the coming months.
DWELLING owners hopeful of being granted a last-minute reprieve or lengthy extension to permanently remain at a local caravan park have been dealt a heavy blow with Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) reiterating its position that residents must exit in the coming months.
Those who have holiday homes at Yungaburra’s Lakeside Caravan Park and others who live in MDTA dwellings recently received revised Notice to Leave letters.
Among them was one addressed to Jenny Sadar who just weeks ago made an impassioned deputation on behalf of fellow dwelling owners at a July TRC Ordinary Council meeting in Ravenshoe.
Ms Sadar has lived and occupied site 13 at Lakeside Caravan Park for the past ten years and had hoped Council had since had a change of mind. However, Ms Sadar was left devastated by the letter’s contents.
Council’s August 27 letter to Miss Sadar noted “Whilst Council’s intention to require long-term tenants to vacate has not changed Council has considered your request for an extension of time,” the letter read.
“In light of your particular circumstances Council is willing to grant an extension to vacate to 30 November 2021.”
Ms Sadar had received previous correspondence instructing her to vacate the park by August 31 but had remained hopeful of being granted at least six months’ grace to reconsider her next move.
The short stay of execution comes despite Council drafting a motion at its Ravenshoe ordinary meeting that read that “Council authorise the CEO to approve extensions of time of up to 12 months to vacate premise” - a motion that was carried 6-1.
Ms Sadar previously noted that the potential upheaval and relocation of her MDTA dwelling would cost upwards of $16000, money the resident said she simply doesn’t have.
In total Ms Sadar said those responsible for 13 dwellings on the site have been asked to relocate from the park.
They include five who own permanent dwellings and a further seven who have privately owned/ holiday homes at the facility.
Just days ago TRC responded to The Express Newspaper’s request for comment about the matter. “At the July Council meeting we agreed to consider requests for extensions of time to leave for up to 12 months,” TRC CEO Gary Rinehart told The Express.
“We received a number of applications and these were assessed on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the applicants’ individual circumstances.
“Some tenants reside at the park while others use the sites as holiday accommodation.
“We considered it reasonable to grant a longer extension to tenants who need to find alternative accommodation.
“We will continue to work with the residents and holidaymakers on their transition from the park.”
