TRAVELLERS and fruit pickers have been reassured that a popular
Queensland caravan park located in the heart of picturesque strawberry
fields in the Sunshine Coast hinterland will not be closed.
The 56-site Beerwah Caravan Park forms part of Gowinta Farms, which went
into voluntary liquidation today.
Spokesman Phil Lindsay told Caravanning News: "It is technically correct
to say the farms are in liquidation, but the owner of the business has
made an offer, with the backing of a bank, to refinance."
It is understood this has not been accepted and the business will have to
go to the market for tender.
"But the owner would be in the front seat," Mr Lindsay said. "If it were
to be sold to someone else, the caravan park would continue no matter
what."
A creditors' meeting has been fixed for November 28.
Gowinta Farms grows over 170 acres of strawberries, 3 million pineapples,
10,000 lychee trees and 6-acres of greenhouse crops including Driscoll
raspberries and strawberries.
Its pet-friendly caravan park was originally opened in 2008 for fruit
pickers but was thrown open to general travellers last year, becoming
popular with overseas backpackers and southern grey nomads seeking casual
work and Queensland's winter sun.
Gointa Farms hit the headlines earlier this when fruit pickers and packers
protested they were being dumped to make way for cheaper workers from
overseas.
Gowinta managing director Leonard Smith wrote to them saying: "I write
with a heavy heart to inform you that after evaluating, discussing and
dissecting the business, we have decided to pick all of our strawberry
crop for the 2012 season by way of contractors."
He said there had been a downturn in business and the changes would reduce
the farm's administration workload.
