CAMP SITES CLOSE SHOCK
HOLIDAY-MAKERS say council’s decision to kick campers off sites to preserve dead, rotting trees at a Queenscliff caravan park poses a major threat to public safety.
Elizabeth Powell, who has been holidaying at Victoria Park – one of four tourist parks operated by the Borough of Queenscliff – for 58 years, said she was among many who received a letter last Thursday revoking her usual campsite because of unsafe trees.
She said it comes as a nearby tree came crashing down on a neighbouring annex during the Christmas holiday period, causing her to fear for her children’s and grandchildren’s safety.
“They’re dead, rotten trees, and they are just putting tape around them,” she said. “This is now a safety priority.”
Councillors elected in March to close sections of the park instead of removing the trees or investing in immediate restoration works.
The borough confirmed it was a decision that would cost council about $106,000 for the 2022-23 financial year.
“We don’t understand why they would preserve dead rotten trees, which is going to jeopardise the safety of others, and losing $106,000 minimum in revenue for the sake of four people on council wanting to keep them,” she said.
A spokesman from the borough said a report from an arborist found public access would need to be restricted near a number of remaining trees.
“At the March Ordinary Meeting, councillors resolved to restrict access to parts of Victoria Park rather than continue tree management works, and to limit the size of vehicles that can camp in other areas,” he said. “More than 75 per cent of sites in Victoria Park will remain open to camping.”
He said the restrictions would form part of a process that council was undertaking to protect and restore damaged vegetation in Victoria
Park, with $40,000 allocated in the upcoming budget.
“While we know these restrictions may be disappointing to some of our campers, our staff are working hard to re-accommodate all affected guests where possible, and place others on a priority waiting list.”
Ms Powell, who said she had not been offered a replacement site, said the decision was one that would likely have a significant impact on local businesses.
“When council were going to knock out a heap of sites to plant more trees we had a meeting with over 100 people who turned up, including locals who don’t want us to go because that is their bread and butter,” she said.
“We all work hard, we are in highly stressful jobs, but we come to the caravan park, like we have been for four generations, and we just want to relax and go to a safe beach with our children, which is what my parents did and my grandparents.”