Caravan owners in Clarence Valley fight eviction from council-run sites

A group of caravan owners are facing eviction after a council in New South Wales ordered them to vacate their ‘home base’.

The long-term caravan tenants have been asked to move on from the Clarence Valley Council-run caravan parks in Brooms Head, Iluka, Minnie Water and Wooli, in the NSW Northern Rivers region.

The group of about 100 tenants have been fighting the council’s decision to move them on to make way for short-term tourists.

It is currently before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The holiday van agreements cover occupancy of 180 days or less, but some owners have been living there permanently or semi-permanently.

One of the Clarence Valley Council caravan sites. Picture: Supplied

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When the decision was announced, the council stated:

“Under a long term (casual occupation) agreement, holders are permitted to use the site for up to 180 days per year, meaning that for the other six months of the year they sit vacant and unable to be used by other visitors. Casual holiday vans are not primary places of residence.”

They issued the notice to the caravan dwellers in March but they have been fighting to overturn it since.

“These sites are on public land and it’s important that all visitors to the Holiday Parks have the same opportunity to use these sites when holidaying with their families and friends,” Clarence Valley Council general manager Laura Black said at the time.

“We’ve been able to accommodate casual agreements for some time but with greater demand, we have made the decision to return these sites for all to use.”

An image created by AI, depicting the destruction of the caravans at the council sites. Picture: Supplied

This comes as an email was leaked featuring an AI image of workers on wrecking balls and smashing caravans, which has angered the caravan owners, the ABC has reported.

One concerned resident posted on a local Illuka community Facebook account, stating her outrage over the evictions.

“I would like council to reverse their decision to evict any members of our local caravan park,” Jacky Overington wrote on the Iluka NSW Notice Board.

“It seems that the council is intent on evicting people, but the reason for this is unclear. At a time of intense housing pressure, recovery from natural disaster and economic stress, for council to compound this for any residents seems cruel and unnecessary.”

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