Wantirna caravan park owner offers ‘help’ to residents facing eviction

THE owner of a caravan park in Melbourne’s outer east where 200 people will be evicted has offered help to residents — but it stops well short of the financial compensation they demanded.

The caravan park will be bulldozed to make way for townhouses. Picture: Steve Tanner

THE owner of Wantirna Caravan Park has offered help to evictees as work continues to relocate the park’s 200 residents — but it doesn’t include serious financial compensation.

In a statement on Monday, park owner Andrew Yu announced management had offered a package ahead of the eviction deadline in January.

But people living in the park, who say they stand to lose thousands of dollars and have called for Mr Yu to offer compensation, have not had that plea met.

Wantirna South caravan park to make way for 200 townhouses pending council approval

Wantirna Caravan Park evictees say they face massive costs

Under the package, residents, on giving 28 days’ notice, won’t have to pay site costs once they leave.

Caravan owners can leave their van on site until November 10.

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The park has also pledged to help residents who own mobile homes advertise them for sale online, or help dismantle them and load them onto vehicles for removal.

“We recognise the upheaval the closure of the caravan park represents for residents and this assistance package aims to help ease residents’ transition into a more permanent housing solution,” Mr Yu said in a statement.

He said 31 residents had already found new homes and moved from the park.

State Government spokesman Jordy Jeffrey-Bailey said about 40 residents had sought assistance from Knox Council and support agencies Villa Maria and Uniting Care Harrison.

Mr Yu said he had also provided space at the park to Uniting Care Harrison, so the group could work face-to-face with residents.

The park was bought by high-rise developers last year and plans have been lodged with Knox Council to put 294 townhouses on the site.

WANTIRNA CARAVAN PARK RESIDENTS’ ASSISTANCE PACKAGE:

— Site and residential fees waived after vacation date

— Access to properties until November 10 to collect personal items if vacated beforehand

— Disposal of any property left behind by residents and disconnection of all utilities upon vacating

— Assistance dismantling properties and help loading personal property onto vehicles

— Digital advertising to help sell mobile homes, structures and personal property

— Endeavour to provide residents with names and contact details of people interested in purchasing properties

— Rental reference letters if necessary