The Tribunal's decision
On
19 October 2018, in Henville v City of Armadale [2018] WASAT 108, the
Tribunal affirmed a decision by the City of Armadale to refuse an
application for a park home park licence.
Critical
to the Tribunal's reasoning was the interpretation of the word
'vehicle' as defined in the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995
(the Act). The Act stipulates that a park home must be a vehicle which
is defined in section 5 as a 'conveyance (other than train, vessel or
aircraft) capable of being propelled or drawn on wheels'.
The
Tribunal found that a park home must therefore be a means of transport
and not merely moveable or capable of movement. The Tribunal confirmed
that a park home did not need a vehicle licence under the Road Traffic
(Administration) Act 2008 due to its size, however the reason for this
must be due to its size and not for any other reason.
The
Tribunal rejected the applicants' assertion that it was sufficient that
a park home 'could be moved within 24 hours of detachment from the
services and detachment of the components comprising the park home' and
concluded that because the proposed habitations were not capable of
being drawn on their own wheels they could not be park homes as properly
defined.
Intent of the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995
The
objectives of this Act are to provide for the regulation of caravanning
and camping, to control and license caravan parks and camping grounds,
to provide for standards in respect of caravan parks and to improve and
promote caravanning and camping.
The aim is to provide affordable but safe holiday options for families and tourists.
It
is acknowledged that some people live long term or permanently in
caravan parks and it is not intended to change this. It does not,
however, change the fundamental purpose of the park.
A
development that is in effect a closed community providing long term
housing options is a residential development and should be assessed as
such.
Impact on local governments
Local
governments should not seek to extend the operation of the Act, in a
way not intended by Parliament, to other residential developments.
If a habitation is not a park home then it is likely to require a building permit under the Building Act 2011 and local governments should follow the relevant planning approval processes.
Licence renewals for existing park home parks are not impacted by the Tribunal decision.
Local governments are advised to read the Tribunal decision and seek their own legal advice as necessary.
Queries should be directed to the legislation team on 61 6552 1530 or email
legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au.