Oasis Caravan Park residents gathered recently to write submissions opposing the proposed redevelopment of the site and the obliteration of their current homes and lifestyle.
There are plans to redevelop the Kanwal caravan park to create 675 units in a series of buildings up to 12 storeys in height.
Residents have taken heart from a similar fight in 2006 when a former redevelopment plan was successfully opposed.
The park was bought by Land Lease SPV Oasis Pty Ltd in 2020 with Vivacity managing the day-to-day operations of the site.
The current redevelopment has been designated as a state significant project by the NSW Government as part of its 15-year plan to deliver 170,000 new homes in areas close to transport, services and jobs.
The Rezoning Pathways Program focuses on opportunities to rezone land in areas with high potential for increasing housing stock, and maximising community benefit.
The site is close to public transport and existing retail and services offered from the Kanwal village.
But current residents love the location and they don’t want to move.
It is a short distance from major local centres including Wyong Hospital, Lake Haven Centre, Warnervale Airport, Budgewoi and Tuggerah Lake.
“If approved, the Oasis redevelopment will deliver 675 apartments to help address the acute housing crisis on the Central Coast, including 102 apartments designated for affordable rental housing and 200 independent living apartments for seniors,” a spokesperson for the owners said.
There are people living in 93 of the 100 long-term and 45 short-stay sites and some residents have permanent residency rights.
“None of the 37 permanent residents who currently live at Oasis will be forcibly evicted or made homeless if the proposed redevelopment is approved by the NSW Minister for Planning,” Vivacity said this week.
“Land Lease SPV Oasis Pty Ltd has met with the residents one-on-one to address their concerns and discuss their individual needs, including discussions about re-housing within the new development for anyone who is unable to relocate.
“This process will continue in good faith.”
But residents have huge concerns around possible forced relocations and the costs involved in finding similar accommodation.
The planning process means the site first needs to be rezoned to increase the building height from three storeys to up to 12 storeys and increase the floor space ratio.
Member for Wyong David Harris championed the residents’ cause in State parliament in March.
“Under the previous Government there was an expression of interest to find sites across the state where it was appropriate to increase the density to provide much-needed housing, and I supported that process because it is absolutely necessary,” Harris said.
“But there are some really stressful human stories connected with that.
“A group of people living at Oasis Caravan Park bought their van or transportable home, and they pay about $150 per week to rent the land that it is on.
“As part of this development, they will have to move.”
Harris said some residents had been living there for 23 years.
And while they will be offered money to sell their current residence so the development can occur, the value of the small piece that they call their home will go nowhere close to what they will need to purchase somewhere else.
“Whether it is the government or the company doing the development, we have to work hard to find people either a new place to live or a place to live in the newly developed area,” Harris said.
The number of units proposed for the site has been reduced from 800 units and the building height has been reduced by two storeys from the original development application (DA) submitted last year.
People have until June 24 to comment on the proposal at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/under-exhibition/wallarah-road-and-pacific-highway-kanwal
Merilyn Vale