New operator for home park

A new operator to take over the lease of the Ettalong Beach Holiday Village home park, which is owned by Gosford Council.

The Council has resolved to enter into an agreement with Australian Tourist Park Management Pty Ltd and Ingenia Communities Management Trust for the assignment of the lease.

Ingenia Communities Management Trust will be required to agree to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the lease for the remainder of the lease period and for its options.

Australian Tourist Park Management Pty Ltd had asked that the lease of Ettalong Beach Holiday Village be transferred to Ingenia Communities Management Trust (or a related entity).

A report by Council staff stated it would not be in Council's interests to have a reluctant provider of such a service to Council for an extended period of time, particularly in the case of a village where there may be an effect on many occupants of the village.

The report recommended against inviting new tenders for the lease of the park as it was "unlikely that a termination of the current lease would be more favourable to Council".

A seven-year lease for the village started on March 25, 2008, with two options for further leases of seven years.

The lease included a provision that allowed the transfer of the lease to another entity.

According to the report, although Australian Tourist Park Management could assign the benefits of the lease to Ingenia Community Management Trust, the company could not assign the obligation of the lease to the trust.

Australian Tourist Park Management proposed to assign the burden of the lease by entering into a tripartite contract with Ingenia Community Management Trust and Council, with the trust contracted with the company to fulfil the company's obligations.

Gosford Council Agenda COR.166, 27 Nov 2012