UnitingCare Harrison commits to Wantirna Caravan Park evictees in face of rental shortages

A HOMELESSNESS support agency is vowing to do all it can to find new homes for Wantirna Caravan Park residents.

Some of the older residents of the caravan park who are being forced out. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

●High-rise developer buys Wantirna Caravan Park, forcing out residents

● Consumer Affairs victoria visits Wantirna Caravan Park amid rent hike concerns

●Wantirna Caravan Park tenants say they may be forced out because of rent hike

● Wantirna Caravan Park owner announces it will close in March 2018

A HOMELESSNESS support agency is vowing to do all it can to find new homes for Wantirna Caravan Park residents, despite fears over a lack of affordable rental housing in the area.

High-rise developers with links to China have bought the park, with almost 200 vulnerable residents forced out by January 2018.

The owner of the site, Andrew Yu, refused to discuss his plans with Leader this week.

Mark Dixon, general manager of homelessness services at UnitingCare Harrison in Wantirna South, said it would do all it could to support residents.

“Obviously this is a big shock to (residents) ... mentally and emotionally, but we want to support them and work with them to get them into good housing options in the next few months,” Mr Dixon said.

Peter Fry, who suffers from emphysema, is among almost 200 vulnerable residents being forced to leave the caravan park. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But he said there were not a lot of affordable rentals in the area, especially for people aged over 55 who lived on the pension.

Mr Dixon said UnitingCare Harrison would work with the Department of Health and Human Services to see how many residents could be moved into social or public housing in the local area.

“We’re working really hard already and we’re in it for the long haul,” he said.

It comes as park resident Trevor Russell called on the State Government to step in and turn vacant land next door to the caravan park, reserved for the Healesville Freeway, into another caravan park or into social housing.

But VicRoads regional director Aidan McGann said any future road development of the site was a “long term matter”.

State Government spokesman Jordy Jeffrey-Bailey did not respond to queries about the vacant land, but said it was working with charities on alternative housing options for residents.

In a statement issued by Knox Council, Mayor Darren Pearce said it was the council’s understanding VicRoads was maintaining the reservation status of the land for future road construction.

“The impending closure of the Wantirna Caravan Park and the impact this will have on residents, is a source of concern for, though not a responsibility of, council,” Mr Pearce said.

But he said council was committed to working with UnitingCare Harrison, to provide support.

He said as of December 12, no planning application had been lodged to develop the caravan site.