Residents have received legal assistance in their struggle for basic improvements at the El Lago Waters Resort at The Entrance but it is yet to result in action on the ground.
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal issued orders that the residents be recognised as homeowners under the Residential Land Lease Communities Act.
Central Coast Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (CCTAAS) assisted nine homeowners – those who own their homes and rent the site – to lodge applications with NCAT after El Lago issued 90-day eviction notices late last year.
CCTAAS represented the homeowners at their formal hearings which were held in May and the decision by the Tribunal was set down on June 11.
Most of the Orders that the homeowners had sought were granted by the Tribunal, a spokesperson for CCTAAS said.
Those Orders included that they be recognised as homeowners and that a written site agreement be issued to all homeowners with commencement date from the date that they took possession of their site.
There was also an Order that the park operator did not require vacant possession of the site in order to complete repairs.
The park issued the termination notices after Central Coast Council ordered management to improve electrical and plumbing issues.
Support services stepped in to help residents fight the eviction notice and NCAT ordered a list of repairs to be completed by August 1.
Those repairs included: repairs to electricity, drainage hot water to showers, sewage seeping issues, blocked toilets and for rubbish to be removed regularly and lawns mowed on a regular basis.
“The first of August has come and gone and not one Order set down by the Tribunal has been complied with by the park operator (Uphold Woo),” the CCTAAS spokesperson said.
The NCAT Orders were made against both Uphold Woo as the operator and The Entrance Group, the owner of the land.
CCTAAS is meeting with the remaining seven homeowners next week to assist with a renewal of proceedings to have Uphold Woo and The Entrance Group back in the Tribunal.
Four tenants who rent units have an NCAT hearing later this month and in September.
CCTAAS will be representing those tenants at their hearings.
“The park operator has not complied with any NCAT directions to lodge evidence or provide submissions,” the spokesperson said.
“We have not had any contact from the park operator since the hearing in May.”
Merilyn Vale
