Iconic Lorne Trampolines park closes after insurers walk away, petition pleas for State Government help

An iconic Lorne holiday attraction that has entertained thousands of children since the 1970s is at risk of closing permanently after insurers walked away. But there’s a glimmer of hope it can be rescued.

A much-loved Lorne holiday attraction has been forced to close for the summer after its operators were unable to secure public liability insurance.

Lorne Sea Baths operators Kathy and Andrew Landos said the family-friendly trampoline attraction was closed on December 2 for the first time in 45 years when its existing insurance lapsed.

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Ms Landos said a rise in trampoline centres opening up across Australia in 2016 had led to a spike in injuries that caused insurers to walk away from the industry.

Without public liability insurance the park cannot legally operate.

“It’s really sad … for this summer closure after a year of closure,” Ms Landos said.

“We have been hanging out for this season and we do 80 per cent of our business in summer.

“We usually have 500 people bounce a day.”

Should the State Government come to the rescue of the Lorne Trampolines? Sign the petition and LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW

While holiday-makers are locked out of the centre, Ms Landos is now calling on Victorian Finance Minister Tim Pallas to save the business by requesting the state insurer provide short-term insurance until a long-term resolution is found.

A petition calling for the crown land site to be temporarily insured by the Victorian Managed Insurance Agency has attracted more than 1500 signatures.

Kathy Landos is bemused by an insurance bungle that has closed Lorne Trampolines, as are holidaying kids Olivia, 10, Lachie, 8, Samara, 11, Tahlia, 6, Evie, 7, and Ebony, 5. Picture: Alison Wynd

The State Government confirmed the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority has approached 28 potential private insurers which all declined to insure the Lorne Trampoline Park.

“Trampoline insurance underwriters have just walked away from trampoline parks in general,” Ms Landos said.

She had been hopeful the park’s low incident rate of 0.01 per cent over more than a decade would have encouraged insurers to back it.

“We have always felt that we were a great operator and have a very different business model to indoor trampoline businesses,” she said.

Ms Landos said the community was devastated by the closure of the attraction and was doing all it could to prevent the park from shutting permanently.

Geelong-based Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has thrown her support behind Ms Landos by calling on the State Government to act.

“The Lorne trampolines are an iconic tourist attraction and must urgently be saved,” Senator Henderson said.

Beachgoers lap up sun and surf in Lorne

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“The Minister can use his discretion to ensure that the trampoline operation is insure.”

Senator Henderson said it would be “utterly heartless” for the State Government not to intervene.

A State Government spokesman said any formal request for government intervention would be considered.

“The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority is working with the operators of the Lorne Trampoline Park regarding the business’s insurance requirements,” he said.

He said the VMIA provides insurance to government departments and agencies and offers insurance to the private market only in limited circumstances.

View the petition at www.change.org/p/tim-pallas-victorian-minister-of-finance-help-save-iconic-lorne-trampolines

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Originally published as Iconic Lorne Trampolines park closes after insurers walk away, petition pleas for State Government help