Diggers told to leave park

A community of returned servicemen and their families have been told they must leave an RSL Rockingham caravan park before the end of August, with LandCorp to start work on the land in anticipation of the contentious Mangles Bay Marina proposal being approved.

Despite the WA Planning Commission still not signing off on the tourism proposal and a decision not expected until the end of the year, permanent residents and holidaymakers have been told to leave.

The land the RSL Memorial Caravan Park on Point Peron Road sits on is within the marina proposal, and management orders of the land are owned by the Department of Sport and Recreation.

A DSR spokesman confirmed lease arrangements on the land expired in March 2016, while LandCorp general manager for metropolitan and industrial John Hackett said work on the land was planned.

“Separate to the WAPC approval, the site is needed to carry out environmental investigations, geotechnical work and land amalgamation, in line with environmental approval conditions,” he said.

“Due to safety and environmental management reasons, this work should not be carried out with members of the public within the area.”

The site has been used by returned servicemen since the 1960s, with some living there permanently and some visiting on holiday. Returned serviceman John, who asked for his surname not to be published, has left after living there for more than two years.

The veteran said he felt betrayed by the Government after serving in the Vietnam War for three years.

“It was like paradise and somewhere to call home — a community for returned servicemen and their families,” John said.

“It is a kick in the guts — simple as that.

“We should have got a lot more support — we didn’t get anything.”

Both of Dianne Storey’s parents served in World War II and her family has been coming to the Rockingham caravan park for more than 50 years.

She said the site was unique, had a great history and was still being used by returned servicemen and women.

“We have nowhere to go — all the Vietnam vets, all their families, legacy people — there is nowhere to go for families to enjoy a normal life,” Ms Storey said.

“Even today it is good for Vietnam vets who have PTSD to come here and relax — it gives them a bit of peace. From our point of view, there is nowhere in WA that is any respite for returned servicemen and women and their families.”

Ms Storey said even if residents had to leave, the site should be preserved.

“It should still remain a refuge site for returned servicemen and their families — we need something here,” she said.

“The decision is still with the WAPC but we are still being pushed out. Why push us out when this is going to lie barren?”

Mr Hackett said LandCorp was within its rights to start work and was committed to a marina project even if the WAPC ruled against the current proposal.

“The project proposal has received Cabinet endorsement and both State and Federal environmental approvals,” he said.

“The State remains committed to delivering a marina consistent with Government and environmental approvals and will continue working with approval agencies to facilitate this outcome.”

RSLWA chief executive Phil Orchard confirmed residents would have to leave.

“We are very sympathetic to the residents' needs,” he said. “However, they have had more than a reasonable amount of time to move on.

“RSLWA is not in a position to offer them an alternative location or to find new homes.

“All efforts to relocate residents have been initiated by individuals and the committee within the park.”

Ms Storey said she would be sad to leave the caravan park.

“I can hopefully sell my caravan and I will chuck in my annex and move away,” she said.