PARK ELDERLY NEED FAIR GO

OUR city council does not have to play the role of a hard-hearted landlord in the row that has erupted over its plans for the Kirra Beach Tourist Park.

The council will get its way in the end. But as a public relations exercise, city councillors are on a hiding to nothing.

Mayor Tom Tate has said the aim is to return the site to its intended purpose as a holiday park for tourists.

But a move-on edict for pensioners who have been allowed to live in the park as permanent residents in solid structures they have built and lovingly turned into homes, some over a very long time, does not sit well.

Many Gold Coast residents will be watching from the sidelines and thinking “there but for the grace of God go I…’’

This matter would be considerably less stressful if the council, instead of telling permanents – and 95 per cent of them are elderly pensioners – that they’ll be out of there within 10 years, had drawn a line and said “you can stay but you’ll be the last to enjoy permanent status’’.

As we report today, one resident is 93. Others are well into their eighties. Some are widows whose most recent memories of their husbands were built in their Kirra homes. None of these people needs the stress. At their age, they should be able to live in the comfort of their home and know their surrounding neighbours are there to look out for them.

They should have certainty in their tenancy and not be living under a directive that they’ll have to pack up and go.

The Bulletin has made the point before and we do so again – since these park structures are permanent homes with happy memories, and not just temporary vans with canvas annexes, let these people see out their days without worry if they don’t want to sell or relocate. The understanding would be that the site would then revert to holiday accommodation.

The council might see this now as a matter of principle. The public would rather councillors saw it as an opportunity to assist the elderly and vulnerable.

The city budget is surely healthy enough without having to move these people on and chase revenue from holidaymakers.