Kanwal: Oasis Caravan Park plans to more than double long-term sites

Oasis Caravan Park has lodged plans to more than double its long-term sites and slash its short-stay accommodation. But it has nothing to do with tourism. Read why here.

Oasis Caravan Park in Kanwal. Picture: Google Maps

Oasis Caravan Park at Kanwal has lodged plans to increase its long-term sites by nearly two and a half times while reducing the number of short-stay sites to a mere handful.

The caravan park owner has lodged a development application (DA) with Central Coast Council to increase its long-term sites from 100 to 240 while reducing its short-term sites from 45 to just seven.

Under the plans 39 short-term sites would be converted to long-term sites along with the construction of 101 new long-term sites each measuring 90sq m.

The plans also include a new communal building on site measuring 54sq m, communal open space, extensive landscaping and a gated, fenced dog off-leash area.

Rounding out the upgrade would be new parking for 25 vehicles and a car wash bay.

Oasis Caravan Park at Kanwal has lodged an application to expand its number of long-term sites by nearly two and a half times. Picture: Supplied

The applicant is listed on planning documents as Oasis Unit Trust, which is owned by Land Lease SPV Oasis.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) records list the owner of Land Lease SPV Oasis as equal shareholders Jonathon Steggles Mendez and Trent Ottawa.

The plans would see the caravan park’s long-term sites expanded significantly. Picture: Supplied

Mr Mendez is the founder and managing director of Sydney-based manufactured home property developer Vivacity.

The DA for the 5.6ha property states the expansion will contribute to affordable rental housing in the area while maintaining the viability of the caravan park.

“The development will contribute to the supply of affordable housing and lower cost rental housing in the locality (noting that people are experiencing housing stress),” the DA states.

“The development will ensure the continuing viability of the operation of the park and improvements to the park as revenue generated from rent will be placed back into the operational budget.”

In a pre-lodgement meeting, Central Coast Council has asked the proponent for detailed social impact and crime prevention reports.

According to the DA the caravan park already has CCTV cameras.

The caravan park already has CCTV cameras.

“The proposed development is not likely to create any significant safety, security, or crime concerns on or around the site,” the DA states.

Nor does the DA envision any additional traffic or transport woes.

“It is considered that the road network has sufficient capacity to accommodate the increase in traffic movements generated by the development and appropriate sight lines are available for safe ingress and egress (from the site),” the DA states.

To “maximise the social benefits” anticipated through the proposed expansion the DA states “consideration of most vulnerable persons be prioritised when looking at future tenants”.

Attempts to contact Mr Mendez were unsuccessful.

The DA comes a month after Shane Johnson, 46, of Berkeley Vale, was sentenced in Gosford District Court to a minimum of three years and two months jail over a shooting at the park in February 2020.

Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless wounding when he shot a man in the leg and another in the hip who he believed were going to attack him and his girlfriend.