A TEENAGER has joined the fight to save the holiday homes of over 70
long-term leaseholders at a NSW beachside caravan park.
In an open letter to the Tweed Holiday Parks Trust, 16-year-old Meg Holland
has pleaded with members not to evict the residents.
"My family and I have owned a permanent caravan in Fingal Holiday Park for
a major part of my life," she wrote.
"It has contributed not only to who I am as a person, but how I live my
life, and I'm sure many others would feel the same way."
Meg explained that growing up as a kid with a permanent caravan had, and
always would be, "a privilege".
"I made friendships left, right and centre and created memories that I now
hold close to my heart," she added.
A third of Fingal Holiday Park's caravan leaseholders are under threat of
permanent eviction to make way for a major facelift, with the first five
being told to quit their sites before Easter.
Another 17 caravan owners have received letters from the Trust informing
them they are not permitted to sell their caravans due to future
redevelopment plans.
Long-term sites required to
'better accommodate touring caravans'
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The five evicted owners were told their "casual long-term occupation
agreements" would cease and they would need to vacate their sites by March
14.
The Trust advised them they required their long-term sites to "better
accommodate touring caravans".
Suzette Collins, one of the five evicted, was devastated by the news.
"We have been enjoying family holidays here together for 10 years," she
said.
"What the Trust doesn't appreciate is our ongoing loyalty to the park and
the fact that we are actually paying customers.
"Together, the long-term Fingal casuals contribute around $400,000
annually.
"It might get busy at Christmas and Easter, but in the quieter months many
tourist sites sit empty which means they're relying on this bread and
butter income."
Many caravan owners at the park have recently spent thousands of dollars
renovating their caravans and annexes.
They are angry the Trust had officially approved improvements,
knowing the future plans for redevelopment.
Caravan owner Robyn Holland believed the gradual removal of long-term
casuals would destroy the unique sense of community in the Fingal Holiday
Park.
"Some of these families have been spending every weekend here for the past
30 years," she said.
"They truly care for the beach, support the local surf club and make a
regular significant contributions to the local economy.
"It's the same situation at Kingscliff South Holiday Park, where every
long-term 'van owner has been instructed to vacate to make way for the new
foreshore park.
"We understand the Trust's business needs to make an income but we believe
there can be a successful balance, where the holiday park is available to
both the loyal long-term 'van owners as well as tourists.
"In the end, if you evict all of us, it's like tearing up a familiar
neighbourhood and creating an artificial tourist town where nobody cares
for the community."