THE owner of a Queensland caravan park has come out with both guns
blazing after the local council voted to launch legal action following
complaints about conditions there . . . just three weeks after he took
over.
"This is ridiculous," the flabbergasted new boss of the 82-site Atkinson
Dam Waterfront Caravan Park west of Brisbane, James Lapham, told
Caravanning News.
"I've only owned the park for a matter of weeks and now I've got this
hanging over my head."
Somerset Regional Council members decided at its recent meeting to take
legal action against the park at Coominya after being told of alleged
"non-compliance with development approval, unlawful building work,
substandard plumbing work and unclean amenities and the like".
The council accused the park of making "no noticeable progress" to remedy
the situation.
But the furious Mr Lapham, who paid $1.5 million for the 25-acre park,
said: "How can they take legal action against someone who has only owned
it for three and a half weeks.
"Surely anything the council did before I took over should have gone to
the previous owner."
He claimed the council was aware that the caravan park was being sold and
that a contract was being negotiated but it had failed to take this into
consideration.
"I have probably already outlaid of the best part of $70,000 on
improvements and got rid of about 17 truckloads of rubbish
before I actually owned it," Mr Lapham said.
"This is all very silly considering I am improving the park, have brought
so much work and have tripled business.
"I have major plans and all we are copping is abuse. I thought the council
was going to back us."
Mr Lapham said he had visited the council offices to get the threat of
legal action lifted but was unable to speak with senior officials. He
claimed a building inspector had apologised.
He believed complaints about the caravan park had originated from a
disgruntled previous resident.
Mr Lapham, who, with wife Samantha, founded Gypsy Cabins & Caravans at
Stanmore in south-east Queensland two years ago, said he was now
considering legal action against the council.
There was no one available at the council to comment.
