Tribunal kills council's plan to ban under-55s from caravan park
NSW tribunal threw out the age restriction as unfair and unreasonable. It had no clear purpose behind the ban.
Clarence Valley Council tried to ban anyone under 55 from living permanently at Brooms Head Holiday Park. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal has scrapped the rule.
Senior tribunal member Katherine Merrick found the ban would harm the ability to sell permanent sites. Merrick also found it had no clear or sensible purpose.
The council introduced the age restriction as part of broader eviction notices issued across coastal caravan parks last year. Some residents feared losing their homes.
Tribunal member Merrick also noted the rule would have stopped children inheriting their parents' permanent van sites unless they were over 55. The park has 52 residential sites, 30 occupied by permanent residents.
About 80 other cases are still before the tribunal.
- 52 total, 30 occupied
- Residential sites at park
- 55 years old
- Age restriction threshold
- Iluka, Minnie Water, Wooli, Brooms Head
- Parks with eviction notices
- About 80
- Cases still pending
Why it mattersThe decision protects residents from unfair age-based housing rules. It allows them to pass their sites to children regardless of age.
AustraliaFor caravan park residents across NSW, this sets a legal standard against age-based restrictions on permanent tenancy and inheritance rights.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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