A motion requiring Council to adhere to the conditions of approval to operate caravan parks at Brooms Head, Iluka, Minnie Water, Wooli, and conduct a full compliance audit report was defeated at the April ordinary meeting.
In March letters were sent to owners of holiday caravans at the four Council managed holiday parks advising of the termination of long term (casual occupation) agreements from June 30, sparking outrage amongst those impacted.
The number of Holiday Vans impacted at Brooms Head would be 20, with 28 at Iluka, 57 at Minnie Water and 31 at Wooli.
Under their long term (casual occupation) agreement, Holiday Van owners are only permitted to use the site for up to 180 days per year, and they can’t rent out their van for the rest of the year to another occupant, despite paying site fees for the entire year.
At the April 11 extraordinary Council meeting the following resolution that was moved by Cr Lynne Cairns and seconded by Cr Greg Clancy was carried.
That Council:
- Directs the General Manager to have all occupants who have long-term (casual occupation) agreements relating to the right to occupy moveable dwelling sites in Brooms Head, Iluka, Minnie Water and Wooli Holiday Parks and who have received notice advising them of the termination of their long term (casual occupation) agreements, written to informing them of the following:
a. Council withdraws the current proposed termination notices of the long term (casual occupation) agreements for the moveable dwelling sites used by the long-term casual occupants in Brooms Head, Iluka, Minnie Water and Wooli Holiday Parks.
b. Council provides delegation to the General Manager to retain the existing Long Term (Casual Occupation) occupants, and that Council will enter into new Long Term (Casual Occupation) Agreements, utilising the Occupation Agreement template, and this is to be carried out immediately.
c. Council will consider any changes to the current site uses of the Brooms Head, Iluka, Minnie Water and Wooli Holiday Parks during the formulation of the Plans of Management, and with full involvement of the Traditional Owners in accordance with the Native Title Act 1993.
Since this resolution was carried, the CV Independent has received reports from holiday caravan owners that Council have sent staff into all of the Holiday Parks to take photos and measure up semi-permanent sites.
At the start of the April 24 ordinary Council meeting, Cr Karen Toms declared a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary interest in the proposed ‘late item’ as she is Director of JKT & Sons P/L Contract Manager of Iluka Riverside Caravan Park.
Cr Toms elected to stay in the Council chambers.
Then the motion, which was the same as the Council staff recommendation, was moved by Cr Cairns and seconded by Cr Clancy that:
a. Council adhere to the Special Condition Clause 18 of the s.68 Conditions of Approval to Operate caravan parks for Brooms Head, Minnie Water, Iluka and Wooli Holiday Parks.
b. Council is provided a full compliance audit report conducted by a person with demonstrated experience and expertise in identifying compliance with the Regulation, for the Holiday Parks in Brooms Head by 16th July 2025, in Minnie Water, Wooli and Iluka by 9th May 2025.
c. The audit report provided to Council must apply to compliance of the Regulation throughout the whole of the Holiday Parks in accordance with each Parks’ s.68 Approvals to Operate.
d. The audit report must refer to a survey plan of the development prepared by a registered surveyor and identify compliance of the development with relevant provisions of the Regulation and development consent/s. If non-compliances are identified in the audit report, a Program of Works (POW) must be developed and provided to Council with the full audit report detailing the works and appropriate timeframes needed to rectify any non-compliances.
When the motion was put to a vote it was defeated 6 to 3, with Cr’s Allison Whaites, Debrah Novak, Karen Toms, Peter Johnstone, Ray Smith, and Shane Causley voting against.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 7 May 2025.
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