Mudgeeraba Holiday Village living conditions so poor children are removed
DRUGS, alcohol and street justice continue at the notorious Mudgeeraba Holiday Village forcing authorities to ban children and parolees from living there.
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THE notorious Mudgeeraba Holiday Village has become such a “squalid hellhole” children are being removed from the park.
Drugs, alcohol, street justice and third world-living conditions continue at the caravan park, despite a “working group” set up last year to combat the worsening problem.
Residents say living there is “terrifying” and liken the park to a “squalid hellhole” with drug dealers on every corner.
State Member Ros Bates said it had reached the point that if a school student’s address was listed as the park, authorities were told and the child was removed.
The Gold Coast Springbrook Rd park is on the market for $2.35 million.
Agent Bob Rollington revealed there was a sale agreement in place last year but the buyer’s finance fell through.
The Gold Coast City Council has launched legal proceedings over health, safety and licensing issues but the park remains open.
Shelley Williams spent the past 10 months living at the park and said she would be pleased to see the back of it after leaving under police escort yesterday.
Ms Williams is terminally ill and spent the past four weeks living without power and in fear of people inside the park.
“I had no idea the park was like this,” she said.
“It was all I could afford while going through treatments.
“Living there has been the worst experience of my life.
“Police are there daily and you’re always looking over your shoulder.”
One long-time resident, who would not be named for fear of retribution, said 90 per cent of the park’s residents were drug addicts, alcoholics or mentally ill.
“This place is like its own little society — it is like the outside world doesn’t exist at times,” the resident said.
“The owner tries to enforce rules but there is only so much you can do.
“The drug dealers think they run the place and in a way they do.
“Children aren’t encouraged to be here and there is violence, particularly between the drug dealers.
“Sometimes I wish the police would come through with the drug dogs and just clear the place out.”
Ms Bates said in the past year there had been a handful of children found to be living in the park and they had been removed.
“We have been told there is a young child there at the moment, so we are working to verify that and act on it,” she said.
“It is taken very seriously.
“It is not a place for children — it is a blight on the suburb of Mudgeeraba.
“Prison parolees have been stopped from moving there too but more needs to be done.”
Area councillor Glenn Tozer said the council closely monitored activities at the park and had launched legal action.
“The conditions have not changed,” he said.
“There’s been action taken on our part, we are following the proper processes through the courts.”
Park owner, Bob Purcell refused to comment but has been building new timber cabins in a bid to improve the park.
Mr Rollington said there had been significant interest in the land but the park was not connected to the council sewerage system, which would hamper redevelopment.
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