By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Campers and tourism businesses want answers on a management takeover of Anglesea’s award-winning caravan park.
Foreshore manager Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) will take back Anglesea Beachfront Family Caravan Park’s expiring Crown Land lease on 1 December 2017.
The Morris family has managed the park for 20 years and planned to add an aquatic centre.
GORCC announced the takeover after a lease tender process failed to “find an acceptable proposal for the value of the site”.
The family raised concerns about landlord GORCC managing the Anglesea tender while operating competing caravan parks at Lorne and Torquay.
A community forum will seek explanations at Anglesea Bowling Club from 11am Sunday.
Invitations said a GORCC representative would attend to help explain the lease tender process, the future of the caravan park and the takeover’s impact on Anglesea.
Business and Tourism Anglesea (BATA) president Raelene Fordham slammed the takeover.
“We’re disappointed that a fellow businessperson, who is also a vice-president of BATA, is facing losing his livelihood,” Ms Fordham said.
“We recognise the right of the landowner GORCC to take back the management of the park but we want to ensure the level of customer service and delivery of services doesn’t become diminished with the change.
“At the end of the day, if the occupancy rate in the park suffers it affects more than just the income to GORCC.
“It affects traders who have just had $1 million taken out of economy with the loss of Alcoa.
“That park is one of Anglesea’s biggest assets and we have to protect what made it a success.”
A park camper’s petition supporting the Morris family’s management to continue had yesterday attracted 3492 supporters toward its target of 5000.
“We respectably request that the Minister for Environment personally intervenes in this matter, sets aside the tender and instructs an independent State Government authority to enter into meaningful negotiations with the current lessee for a new Crown Land lease,” the petition said.
Petition supporter Jan Wilson wrote: “Shame on you GORCC to think that you could even begin to have the passion and dedication and above all the personal empathy that the Morris family have had over many years at this amazing family caravan park.
GORCC was committed to “maintaining the park to at least its current standards”, said chief executive Richard Davies.
The takeover transition would leave campers, visitors and permit-holders unaffected, he said
“It will retain local business and tourism arrangements and commit to no jobs losses. GORCC will meet with staff to discuss options.
“The Morris family have made an enormous contribution to the Anglesea community and have developed a wonderful park on Crown Land.”
