IMPROVING GOVERNANCE OF RESIDENTIAL PARKS

16-February-2011

Click here for a copy of the NSW LIBERALS & NATIONALS' IMPROVING GOVERNANCE OF RESIDENTIAL PARKS policy

Shadow Minister for Fair Trading Greg Aplin and the Member for Port Stephens Craig Baumann have announced a NSW Liberals & Nationals plan to protect people living in residential parks from excessive rent increases and improve standards in residential parks.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals plan to reform the governance of residential parks across New South Wales will improve certainty and security for residents and ensuring the right balance is struck between park residents and owners.

"Residential parks are an integral part of our economy, playing an important role in the tourism and housing sector across New South Wales," Mr Aplin said.

"Over 30,000 people, in approximately 900 residential parks across our State, utilise residential parks for affordable housing and because of this the NSW Liberals & Nationals have announced this commitment to improve governance across the industry," he said.

"The NSW Liberals & Nationals residential parks policy aims to remove damaging tensions between park operators and residents and to modernise the industry through a system of much-needed reforms.

“This is an industry which has grown beyond its simple beginnings with modest caravans and short-term residents to become the permanent home of choice for many," Mr Aplin said.

In consultation with owners and residents a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will strengthen and help grow the residential parks sector through:

·        Licensing of residential park operators;

·        Education of new operators to raise standards and expertise;

·        Improving the resolution process of 'excessive rent increase' applications; and

·        Review of the Residential Parks Act 1998 and Regulations including tenure issues.

Member for Port Stephens Craig Baumann welcomed this announcement saying it was important to establish a system of communication and negotiation between Hunter residential parks residents and owners.

"In Port Stephens we have approximately 680 listed mobile homes and many of those dwellings are home to elderly or vulnerable residents," Mr Baumann said.

"The Keneally Labor Government has neglected this industry for too long through its failure to regulate residents, dwellings and the needs of this specific community group.

"Excessive rent increases have been a huge problem across the Hunter and specifically the Port Stephens electorate and this reform will pave the way to better protect residents and improve avenues for communication with owners and managers," Mr Baumann said.