Tribunal quashes over-55s rule at NSW caravan park

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) has ruled that a special condition at Brooms Head Holiday Park, introduced by Clarence Valley Council, which barred anyone under 55 from living in permanent vans, was not fair and reasonable. Senior NCAT member Katherine Merrick found the rule would adversely affect the marketability and saleability of permanent sites and that no clear or coherent purpose for it could be identified. The rule would also have prevented owners from passing on their sites to children under 55 after death. According to Tony Everingham of the Clarence Valley Semi Permanent Van Group, about 80 cases remain before NCAT, with seven resolved so far.