Council, park locked in legal battle

[Kit Kat]

NO GO: Somerset Council has taken legal action against Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park. Sarah Fleming

SOMERSET Regional Council has taken legal action against a local caravan park after accusing them of non-compliance activities.

Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park owner James Lapham was served with an issue of non-compliance last week.

"We feel like we have been wronged by getting this issue of non-compliance," Mr Lapham said.

"We have spent the best part of $300,000 in improving the park and we are tired of being ridiculed and have never heard anyone mention the good things we have done.

"Basically we were told that as of March 28 we couldn't have campers anymore and there has been camping here for 40 years.

"We have 1700 people here this Easter and stopping us having campers would send us broke."

At last week's council meeting, SRC moved into closed session to discuss the alleged non-compliance activities by the park.

Somerset Council CEO Robert Bain confirmed that SRC had commissioned lawyers to take appropriate action against Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park.

Source: Gatton, Lockyer & Brisbane Valley Star. Read more here: http://www.gattonstar.com.au/news/counc ... e/1831801/

[Kit Kat]

Future bleak for dam park

THE future of tourism in the Atkinson Dam area is in doubt, with a legal battle between Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park and Somerset Regional Council.

SRC has alleged non-compliance by Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park and is pursuing action under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.

SRC chief executive officer Robert Bain said an action plan was issued to the owners detailing improvements to be made to the site, including lodging appropriate development applications with council.

Park owners James Lapham and Samantha Savage claim to have spent close to $300,000 in improvements to the park.

The park is approved for 42 caravan sites and eight camp sites but council claimed the park regularly accommodates more on the adjoining esplanade that is leased from SEQWater.

Correspondence from SRC to the park owners stated: "While Council records also indicated that in the past SEQWater may not have had any strong objection to the esplanade being used for camping purposes, it needs to be noted that the esplanade was not part of the land the subject of the original development approval, and therefore should not be used for camping purposes without Council's specific approval".

Mr Lapham, who has owned the park for nine months, said he couldn't let the council stop him from allowing campers in.

"There has been camping here for 30 years, so why is this only an issue now?" he said.

Source: Gatton, Lockyer & Brisbane Valley Star. Read more here:
http://www.gattonstar.com.au/news/futur ... k/1840775/

[Jim]

NO GO: Somerset Council has taken legal action against Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park. Sarah Fleming

SOMERSET Regional Council has taken legal action against a local caravan park after accusing them of non-compliance activities.

Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park owner James Lapham was served with an issue of non-compliance last week.

"We feel like we have been wronged by getting this issue of non-compliance," Mr Lapham said.

"We have spent the best part of $300,000 in improving the park and we are tired of being ridiculed and have never heard anyone mention the good things we have done.

"Basically we were told that as of March 28 we couldn't have campers anymore and there has been camping here for 40 years.

"We have 1700 people here this Easter and stopping us having campers would send us broke."

At last week's council meeting, SRC moved into closed session to discuss the alleged non-compliance activities by the park.

Somerset Council CEO Robert Bain confirmed that SRC had commissioned lawyers to take appropriate action against Atkinson Dam Waterfront Caravan Park.

Source: Gatton, Lockyer & Brisbane Valley Star. Read more here: http://www.gattonstar.com.au/news/counc ... e/1831801/

What didn't they comply with?

[oldtrack123]

Hi
it would seem the problem is they are using land , for which the do not have council approval as a CP
That possibly also means they are exceeding the "approved" number of sites

I wonder if the council polices other CPs regarding over crowding ??
collecting fees $$$$$ from more vans /tents etc than approved


PeterQ

[T1 Terry]

I guess this is a backlash for the hassles the caravan parks assoc have been stirring up with council owner lands being used for low cost camping through out Qld and other states, the old, 'Paybacks are a bitch" type of thing. Did they really think it would be all one way?

[TigerMK1]

Having camped at Somerset dam a few times, can see where the camping area's get overfilled. We book a site from the Adventist association that has a large leased waterside area. So our group of say 30 people have a great view, very plesent time and place. The only thing that can disturb our serenty is when all the ski boats from accross the way in the 300+ strong caravan/camping park disturb our rexlation. Have had a few boats motor over to us and ask where they can get to book on our side. Sorry, no boat ranks, no grog, no noise, no kids, heaven.

[Wilbor]

Not my idea of heaven