As Australia’s homelessness crisis deepens, a greater focus is being put on the role that caravan parks can – and, in some cases cannot – play in easing the situation.
In South Australia, more than 30 long-term guests have just been told to vacate their sites in order that the caravan parks can stick to their holiday park status.
The long-term dwellers at Christies Beach and Moana Beach caravan parks in Adelaide’s south told the Adelaide Advertiser they were shocked to learn there was a time limit on the sites that many had resorted to calling home.
One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said the rental crisis is exhausting and the local council is just making it a whole lot worse.
As the homelessness crisis deepens, ,ore people are living in tents. PIC: Jarrod Gillespie
“We have been going between Christies and Moana every 89 days for nearly a year,” she said. “Recently we have been informed that the extended stays are no longer an option … in place is 30 day stays and only 120 days (annually) at each park.”
The Adelaide Advertiser reports that the 2007 Residential Act deems Christies Beach and Moana Beach Caravan Parks ‘holiday parks’. Tourists can only remain in one caravan park for a specific time limit.
Mayor Simon McMahon told the newspaper that the procedures currently in place were to ensure fairness to all.
“Both parks are managed day-to-day in line with their defined role as tourist parks,” he said. “Consistency of conditions of occupancy (length of stays) is required to order ensure fairness, equity and surety for all visitors.”
The mayor said any significant change to existing uses would require public consultation and amendment of the management plan.
“The state government is responsible for housing while council has a role in supporting families experiencing disadvantage through our community centres,” he said.
However, Yvonne Wedham, from community group, Onkaparinga Council Watch, said middle class Australia was in a housing crisis and there was now a real opportunity for council to be a part of the solution.
“The private caravan parks are booked out, some have waiting lists,” she told the Adelaide Advertiser. “The people who are now homeless is so much more diverse, it’s not the stereotype of the unemployed and going nowhere in life, it’s not the case.”
Obviously you need Holiday parks for tourists to be able to stay and bring money into the district, but surely onkaparinga council could find some spare land to create another long term park like woodcroft. Meanwhile it’s about time housing S.A. got around to building more houses for permanent housing.
It will come a time again and it’s not to far away were permanent van parks will be a part of our social fabric. There was several on the north side of Brisbane that were sold up and subdivided over the years. Now more than ever we need low cost options for people to have a home to go and have security for their future.
Caravan parks are a business that need to make money to survive, they are not a benevolent society.
Why pick on caravan parks? If caravan parks have an obligation to provide low cost housing for the homeless then why shouldn’t hotels motels and any other accommodation providers be expected to do their bit as well. I concur with Brad in that caravan parks are a business not a benevolent society.
I agree with Yvonne and Rob. The Homeless issue has grown rapidly since COVID and reviewing it is something of a rabbit hole. Coastal areas use to be difficult to find employment in – now it’s almost impossible to get and keep good staff – a number of our local hospitality venues look like closing due to lack of staff and if they do find staff, they cant get accommodation for them.
I know of a perfectly good home that sat empty and neglected for almost 18 months whilst the owner went through DA proceedings – enough time for someone to rent till they got on their feet. But then rents in this area have literally gone through the roof and for families, that’s a tragedy. The govt needs to look seriously into some kind of rent control. There has to be an answer, and soon, because it wont take long before “the homeless” become a movement that will want action and answers.
Adelaide used to be my hometown.I live in NSW social housing (got it in late 2018).It saddens me that the prior government did nothing but was so busy selling off the stock and land to private developers.(SA Renewal).We are talking about people sleeping in tents and children, elderly etc.What kind of society will we have in the future??
It is a pity that caravan parks are being used as a base for homeless families when it iss a government problem being palmed off onto business tocarry the load while councils run away from solving the problem. Why do councillors not respond to there responsibility.
We are on the road travelling full time and find many caravan parks have permanents. The major problem with this is the lack of respect from some permanents regarding keeping sites clean and the behaviour of their children and animals. Some treat the parks like their own backyard and are disrespectful of the managers requests to clean up or leave. I feel for the people and hope the council can find a solution. We avoid caravan parks with low reviews and this is unfair on the managers as these reviews are usually aimed at the permanents or long stayers.
good points. and above all they are businesses, not welfare providers.
This is not just an issue for the camping grounds and the Councils, but for Australia as a whole, As a Kiwi living in Australia I am appalled at the amount of people that are living homeless ! Whats happened to the lucky country……….. A complete lack of planning thats what !