By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s takeover of Anglesea Beachfront Caravan Park lease should be nullified, a public forum of campers and local businesses has been told.
Business and Tourism Anglesea (BATA) president Raylene Fordham said more than 250 people packed the town’s bowling club in a show of support for the park’s current lessees, the Morris family.
Concerned campers and BATA organised the meeting over their fears for the future of the caravan park.
GORCC announced two weeks ago that it would take over the lease despite going through a public tender process attracting four submissions, including the Morris family.
Ms Fordham said the meeting voted to have the decision “declared null and void due to a conflict of interest and that the whole tender process be independently reviewed”.
The meeting agreed to submit a letter to the Minister for the Environment Lily D’Ambrosio calling for “immediate action”.
GORCC CEO Richard Davies and staff members David Petty and Steve Curry attended the forum.
Ms Fordham said a number of attendees expressed concern about the future of the park under GORCC management.
Camper Robert Styles of Sunbury said there was widespread concern among campers over the takeover.
“It almost feels like an insider trading situation because they have given themselves the contract,” Mr Styles said.
“I don’t understand how that can be legal. I find it unbelievable. There’s a lack of information and they wouldn’t tell us how the process was run.
“Every permanent has been left in the lurch by what’s going on.
“We’ve been going there 11 years and we just replaced our caravan for the long-term but now we are unsure after spending all that money.”
A petition started by a concerned camper on change.org had 3548 supporters up to Wednesday 15 June and an Anglesea Community Voice Facebook page had been created over the issue.
