The Hepburn Shire mayor and chief executive have met with Suburban Development Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to raise concerns about the eviction of permanent residents from the Daylesford Holiday Park.
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Council passed a resolution at the meeting on June 20 condemning the move by the park proprietors to issue an eviction notice to 11 permanent residents, who are required to vacate the crown land park by March 2018.
Mayor Sebastian Klein said the meeting was designed to provide the minister with background on the issue to help come up with a potential resolution.
He said Ms D’Abrosio was “very sympathetic to the plight of the residents”.
"We hope that we can continue the dialogue with the state government to understand the breadth of the issue around the state and any possible solutions."
In June a DELWP spokesperson said “DELWP is working with the Hepburn Shire Council and the Department of Health and Human Services to examine all available options and to make sure that there is access to all appropriate support”.
Proprietors Anthony and Jodie Meechan maintain that under a 2011 Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning ruling they are require to remove permanent residents from the park.
DELWP state Crown Land parks are not designed for permanent residents and the policy states 12-month permit holders are to stay for no more than 59 consecutive nights. The couple are due to meet with Hepburn Shire chief executive Aaron van Egmond to discuss the issue further this week.
Ms D’Ambrosio said “I understand this is a distressing time for the affected tenants of the caravan park”.
“I have asked my department to work closely with the Hepburn Shire Council to examine all available options of support and to make sure that those tenants experiencing hardship are given all the appropriate assistance.”