Page 1811 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 7 June 2006
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strength and value of the community of residents presently living at the Narrabundah Long Stay Caravan Park. In making the point that the community living at the Narrabundah Long Stay Caravan Park is a strong and supportive one, I am not presuming that everyone likes everyone else or gets on with each other. However, I have observed in my visits there and in talking to residents that people do look out for each other.
The residents themselves argue that they like where they are living and would fear isolation if they moved to a block of flats or into a house in the suburbs. A trip to the shops involves checking whether neighbours need a lift or some milk. People living on their own are not in danger of getting sick unseen or at the worst, as we have seen with some places in larger cities, dying in their flats and not being found for many months.
Most of the residents at this park also argue that they pay their own way and that they own their own house, if not the land, and that Canberra people should not see them as poor and needy. That is true, although, in common with long-stay caravan parks across Australia, the people there do not have much money, and they include quite a few retirees and pensioners, as well as some on benefits and people living with a disability and with low-paid work.
While the typically more isolated and affluent Canberra people might not have much time for their neighbours, the park’s residents know that their quality of life is greatly enhanced by the sense of community they experience. That kind of social capital would be destroyed if the park were moved. It is deeply disturbing that Koomarri failed to understand the social value of property it had in its hands and that Josip Zivko, the developer, could consider purchasing the property without regard to the community living upon it.
I turn to the absence of alternative long-stay caravan park berths in the Canberra region. There is only a handful of sites available anywhere in the Canberra region—from Yass or Goulburn to the coast. So, while legally the new owner can simply advise residents that they have a few months to make other arrangements, realistically there is nowhere to go. Also, many long-stay parks these days will only accept new or virtually new vans and transportables. Even if residents were to look further afield, they would be unlikely to be able to bring their homes with them.
Finally, a large proportion of the vans and homes could not be moved. They have had wet areas, slabs and other rooms added. Some are just too old. They are strong where they are, but would not stand up to being moved. For anyone who is able to and prepared to move, the costs would be prohibitive.
As to the shortage of affordable private rental accommodation, there is a range of reasons that there is such a dearth of affordable housing in Canberra’s private rental market. The land release program, land tax, support for first home owners, the rental rebate scheme, negative gearing, diminishing funds for public housing and even the GST all play a part in limiting the supply of affordable housing. I have referred to that numerous times in this Assembly and elsewhere. ATCOSS, ACT Shelter, the Housing Industry Association and the property council all acknowledge this shortage.
The next element is the long public housing waiting lists. Many residents would not be eligible for public housing, or at least would not be given priority, unless and until they
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