Caravan Parks & Camping Grounds regulations to be amended

24/8/98

Local Government Minister Paul Omodei says the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations will be amended to give councils more discretion in implementing the new rules introduced last year.

Mr Omodei told the Local Government Week Conference that at present only carports, pergolas and storage sheds were permitted on a site within a caravan park, but this would be amended to include all Class 10a structures as defined in the Building Code of Australia, which included verandahs, patios, porches, porticos, gazebos and garages.

The Minister said the transitional provisions included in the new regulations gave councils ample time in which to introduce changes and also provided that anything that was previously legal would continue to be legal, even if not covered by the new regulations.

The purpose of this provision was to ensure that residents, particularly long-term and elderly residents, were not forced into changes which could only be described as officious and unnecessary.

Even with this broad provision, there appeared to be anomalous situations and these would be clarified by allowing councils to permit non-complying structures built before July 1, 1997 provided they were sound, safe, healthy, and not an intrusion on the space of neighbours.

The same discretion would be allowed in relation to the size of roads and setbacks.

"These amendments will make it absolutely clear to councils that they are to administer the regulations sensitively, with proper regard for the circumstances of existing residents, while still pursuing the goal of improving standards over time," Mr Omodei said.

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 9366 0200