MP pitches for sites

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
WARBURTON Caravan Park could be able to keep most of its campsites along the riverbanks after Gembrook MP Brad Battin announced there was no government requirement for the removal of the sites.
Residents are hailing the development as a step in the right direction, but remain sceptical until the changes have taken place.
Yarra Ranges Council held an informal meeting in Warburton on 19 March with angry residents demanding why the draft master plan for the caravan park complex included the removal of 70 camp sites from the river banks.
O’Shannassy Ward councillor Chris Templer said the DSE had been standing over the council for five years to impose a 20-metre buffer zone, that would see the removal of the 70 sites, “and we now find out they didn’t have the power they said they did over us and the caravan park”.
Mr Templer said after Mr Battin “crashed the party” with the good news, everybody left in a much better frame of mind.
Mr Battin said a letter was sent to the council in 2005 saying they must have a 20-metre buffer line but the corresponding legislation was never passed by the previous government.
“It’s not council’s fault but now we have to work with council to change it,” he said.
“We want the master plan to reflect the best possible outcome for the community.”
Mr Battin said for safety reasons some sites might still have to be relocated but they would try to retain the majority of sites.
“It’s a tourism town and you can’t keep taking away tourism when there’s no industry up there any more,” Mr Battin said.
Warburton resident and businessman Norman Orr, who has been motivating residents to Stand Up for Warburton, said it was quite a good development.
“I’m happy if it puts the kybosh on them taking the sites away,” he said.
“But we’re not resting on our laurels as far as that announcement.”
Mr Orr said about 200 letters of support for the sites had been collected from visitors at the caravan park over the long weekend, and a petition with already 300 names would be presented to the council.