Blanchetown caravan park rebuild abandoned amid bitter legal dispute over mogul’s millions

A Riverland town could be left without a caravan park amid a bitter legal dispute over the fortune of the owner of Noel’s Caravans.

The rebuild of a caravan park in a Riverland town decimated by devastating floods has been abandoned, amid claims a bitter legal dispute over a caravan mogul’s millions left its managers without a pay cheque for weeks and owed more than $80,000.

BIG4 Blanchetown Riverside Holiday Park managers Michael and Lisa Donald, who have been managing the rebuild of the caravan park owned by Noel Faggotter, claim his daughters Naomi Joy Porter and Torie Lee-Anne Cooper, who have an enduring power of attorney over their father, have “breached” the contract between their father and the managers, one of whom is a stepson.

The dispute involving the family behind Noel’s Caravans means Blanchetown could be left without an operating caravan park ahead of its peak tourist season as the rebuild remains unfinished.

The rebuild of the BIG4 Blanchetown Riverside Holiday Park has been abandoned amid claims of a bitter legal dispute over Noel’s Caravans owner Noel Faggotter’s millions. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Ms Porter and Ms Cooper this month launched legal action in the Supreme Court against their terminally ill father and his new wife Rosemary Dunn, Mr Donald’s mother, over the renowned business owner’s capacity to manage his millions of dollars earned as SA’s most recognisable caravan dealer.

In a letter filed as part of Ms Porter and Ms Cooper’s claim in the Supreme Court, the Donalds advised their stepsisters they would leave the park, owned by Mr Faggotter, on August 9 “after several weeks of not being paid at all and after several months of being project managers working seven days a week hard labour and project management rebuilding Noel’s dream park”.

Noel's Caravan owner Noel Faggotter was diagnosed with a brain tumour last March. Picture: Supplied

In the letter, seen by The Advertiser, they claim they are owed almost $83,000 but it is understood the sum being sought has been reduced.

“Sadly contracts legally put in place have been breached and voided by you without any direction whatsoever and ignoring all previous correspondence,” they wrote in the letter.

“You are liable and responsible for everything in regards to the BIG4 Blanchetown Riverside Holiday Park.”

In the letter, Mr Donald and Ms Donald allege their stepsisters, who they say are the “reason the park is not in operation”, breached the contract on June 16 by “not continuing fund the rebuild” despite their father “continuously” asking the pair to continue construction.

“It breaks our hearts that Noel’s wishes have not been respected,” they wrote.

Mr Faggotter’s daughters Torie Lee-Anne Cooper and Naomi Joy Porter have launched legal action against their terminally ill father and his new wife Rosemary Dunn. Picture: Dean Martin

“We have a family with young children to support and should not have to suffer for your lack of compassion and empathy.”

In legal documents obtained by The Advertiser, Ms Porter and Ms Cooper claim they were “excluded from the negotiations and final agreement” concerning the caravan park.

They claim about $400,000 has been spent on the park’s rebuild.

Burk Salter Wines owner Greg Salter said his business had halved since the damage to the town’s two caravan parks had prevented tourists from staying in Blanchetown.

“That’s the big problem,” Mr Salter said.

Burk Salter Wines owner Greg Salter said his business would “do it tough” if the caravan park rebuild was not finished. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“A town should have a park.

“Of course things would be better with the park.

“It’s going to be hard.

“We’re going to do it tough.

“We have to do something else to get people in.”

Ms Dunn previously told The Advertiser seeing the park operating again was one of Mr Faggotter’s wishes.

“He would have loved to have seen his caravan park back up and running,” Ms Dunn said.

“He’ll never see it put back together.”

Mr Donald and Ms Donald declined to comment.

A response to Ms Porter and Ms Cooper’s claim was expected to be filed by Friday.