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March 2016
 

 


Fingal Holiday Park

Fingal Holiday Park: 'bread and butter income' threatened

Memories close to girl's heart

Teenager joins battle to save holiday homes

Have your say

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'


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."

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