Residents to vacate park

It was the end of an era for Palm Beach Caravan and Holiday Village resident Maureen McLaughlin last week, when she farewelled her home for the last time.

Just one week after a deal was finalised with Defence Housing to develop the Fisher Street site, Mrs McLaughlin said it was difficult to watch her home on to the back of a truck bound for the Wheatbelt town of Moora.

She said she was relieved more than 150 residents, who would be asked to vacate the site within 24 months, finally had answers, more than four years after the park was originally placed on the market.

“I’ve lived here longer than I have ever lived anywhere in my life and it will be hard to leave, but my thoughts are still with the people here who will have to find new places to live,” Mrs McLaughlin said.

Park owner Tony Bodman said it was with mixed feelings he formally sold the park on May 1.

Mr Bodman said he had been committed to the running of the business for more than 27 years, and it was with great sadness he would retire and leave it all behind.

“It has been a very emotional time and it will be very sad for me to leave.

I’m not sure people understand that,” he said.

Mrs McLaughlin said those who were able had already left the site but many were in poor health, or did not have the money.

She said she was forced to dip into her superannuation fund to find the $20,000 needed to relocate her stationary caravan.

Resident and WWII veteran Reg Smith, 91, said he would simply wait two years to see what would become of him.

Defence Housing Authority managing director Peter Howman said DHA agreed to purchase Palm Beach Caravan and Holiday Village for a future residential development for Royal Australian Navy personnel, with work expected to start in late 2016.

“We are committed to working with the appropriate government departments to meet the needs of the residents,” Mr Howman said.