April 27, 2018
Wondai’s former Mackenzie Street caravan park is going to be demolished with work expected to start after the last tenant leaves next month.
The South Burnett Regional Council made the decision to close the caravan park last June after it received a $300,000 quote to refurbish the park’s ageing facilities block.
For the past few years the caravan park has been home to no more than six permanent residents, and after the decision was taken the Council gave them a year to find alternative accommodation.
Cr Ros Heit said the Council had worked closely with public housing authorities and at least two of the four former tenants found they could relocate from the park into public housing for roughly the same cost they were paying at the caravan park.
“A third tenant took another option, and the remaining tenant is expected to move out shortly,” Cr Heit said.
“Once this occurs, Council can demolish the old facilities block, remove the concrete hardstands and return the area to parkland.”
Cr Heit said part of the land could be used to extend the adjoining Wondai swimming pool, but no firm decision on the block’s future had yet been made.
“Really, it made no sense to build a new facilities block,” Cr Heit said.
“Wondai is already well served with public toilets and building another set couldn’t be justified on an economic basis.”
The decision has angered some Wondai residents, with someone papering the former caravan park’s street sign with two posters claiming the demolition of the park was because the Council was poorly managed.
“Assets belong to ratepayers, not the Council employees,” one sign begins.
“Selling off assets is a sign of miss (sic) management. Before amalgamation most previous councils managed to retain established assets.
“Why can’t this lot? Answer: poor managers. Deadwood in this department needs to be discarded.”
A second sign implies Wondai is being treated poorly because most Councillors have no connection to the town.
“Four Councillors are previous Kingaroy residents. Wondai Council managed to retain assets established by the ratepayers of the Shire without the need to sell them off.
“No matter how much money is directed to this incompetent lot, benefits will still fall short.
“These towns draw the short straw every time: Wondai, Tingoora, Hivesville, Proston, Murgon.”
Cr Heit said the signs were unfortunate, but any decision the Council took would always have its supporters and detractors.
