A caravan park manager and support staff will take over the park’s management from July 1.
Federation Council staff are finalising the Project Brief and accompanying Request for Quote (RFQ) documents to guide the engagement of a suitable firm to undertake the masterplan for the park, as advised at council’s April 16 meeting.
“There has been no evidence found to date of a masterplan ever been adopted for the park by council,” council’s General Manager Adrian Butler said.
“The only work done in this area by council was around 2016/17 where council engaged Otium, who were undertaking concept design work to assist to inform the new Corowa Pool development.”
Mr Butler said council has already received reports to allow appropriate firms to inform the masterplan process and help council decide on actions. These reports include the building certification report and tree report.
Since council’s March meeting, Corowa Tree Company has recommended urgent removal of some trees “due to structural damage, with others being deemed of little value and which should also be removed”. The report did not cover the entire trees.
“Council should make provision for the urgent removal of the trees deemed most at risk of failing,” Mr Butler said.
“Council has had over 60 customer requests already from holders of annual short term agreements, with all expressing disappointment and in some cases, devastation at the news their sites will not be renewed post 30 June this year. Council is responding to all the requests.
“Council still has not served the 90-day eviction notices, as based on council’s advice, this notice is required to be issued by the current managers of the park given they are the party who issued the Agreements to occupy.”Mr Butler said council has committed to providing the site holders with at least the 90-day notice. “Many of the customer requests have offered to work with council whilst the renewal works are undertaken,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch said: “It’s going to be a very big job. Obviously there’ll be some pain.”
Cr Gail Law said; “the fact is we’re communicating”.
“We’ve got to keep that up. Keep the lines of communication open as much as possible.”
Cr Paul Miegel urged council to ensure allowance is made on the tree removal subject. “The risk here is quite unacceptable. Herein lies the crux of what we’re doing. We’ve got to find the money somehow.”