Knox Council urges Wantirna Caravan Park developer to give compensation
KNOX Council has pleaded with the developer of the Wantirna Caravan Park site to “do the right thing” and give evictees compensation.
Outer East
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KNOX Council has pleaded with the developer of the Wantirna Caravan Park site to “have a moral conscience” and give evictees compensation.
At Monday’s council meeting, mayor Darren Pearce called on LongRiver to provide “fair and reasonable” compensation for evicted residents and help pay relocation costs.
He said there would be no compensation from the council, and the State Government also confirmed it would not provide money.
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Cr Pearce told Leader some residents had unrealistic expectations that they would be compensated through council or the Government.
“That simply will not happen,” Cr Pearce said.
“That is why we are calling on the developer to have a moral conscience and do the right thing by residents of the caravan park.
“Bluntly, we can’t use ratepayers money to compensate for something we’re not liable for.”
Council chief executive Tony Doyle said it was working hard with community groups and State Government agencies to help residents to find new homes.
“But the transaction (for compensation) is between the developer and residents,” Mr Doyle said.
“(The) resolution (at the council meeting) was about calling on the developer, who is meeting his legal obligations, to think about the moral dimension here and think about supporting the residents via some compensation.”
Cr Pearce said the council had talked with the developer but was unsuccessful in getting a workable solution.
He said residents were elderly and vulnerable.
“This is their home,” Cr Pearce said.
“Some of them have spent up to $100,000 on their dwellings unaware they didn’t have strong tenancy rights.”
He said the motion calling for compensation was separate to the council deciding on the planning application for the site, which includes 294 townhouses.
Residents are planning a public rally for Saturday, calling on the State Government to give them compensation.
Cr Pearce said they had the democratic right to protest but he wouldn’t be going, and had recommended other councillors also not attend.
LongRiver declined to comment.
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