Anglesea caravan park forced to give up their lease after 21 successful years

An Anglesea caravan park has been ordered to hand over the lease after 21 years.

The park has been informed by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee that its lease will not be renewed.

The park was asked to submit a tender to GORCC, but at the end of the tender process, GORCC awarded it to itself.

Errol Morris, director of the Anglesea Beachfront Family Caravan Park, said they will now have a monopoly on caravan parks along the coast.

‘I’m not too sure what that’s going to do for prices, but I can see them only going in one direction,’ Mr Morris said.

Mr Morris said there’s no opportunity to appeal the decision.

‘It’s heart-wrenching,’ he said.

‘The staff is asking us what’s going to happen to their jobs. All I can say is we’re still running the business for another 12 months.’

The local community is said to be outraged over the decision, and a rally in support of the Morris family at 10.30am on Thursday.

Click PLAY below to hear from Errol Morris

Richard Davies, CEO Great Ocean Road Coast Committee spoke with 3AW Drive’s Mark Hawthorne, he says the park won’t be closing and current permit holders will be able to keep their spots.

‘The lease will expire on December 1 next year and will come under management of our organisation.’

Mr Davies says, ‘We need to make sure the park continue in its current standard.’

The park has been forced to remove their cabins, and GORCC will replace them with their own cabins over time.

‘There’s things I just can’t talk about? I’m really unable to comment on some aspects,’ he tells 3AW Drive.

Mr Davies says the committee will be ready to open for the holiday season come December next year.

The community will rally against the take over on Thursday at the park. 

Click PLAY below to hear more from Richard Davies