ABOUT 140 people at Tanah Merah are set to thrown from their homes in the name of progress as Stage 3 of M1 upgrades take hold.
Galaxy Caravan Park and a portion of neighbouring Jargarra Villas on the Pacific Highway are expected to be resumed, in favour of a park and ride facility.
Residents last week told MyCity Logan they felt vulnerable – many of them living in permanent caravans, small cabins or units.
While a few can be towed to another caravan park, up to 80 individuals, couples or families will be looking for new low-cost housing in a market which shows rental vacancies at around 0.7%.
Local state MP Shannon Fentiman said her electorate office at Waterford was open to anyone who has concerns or requires assistance.
A number of residents already suffer mental illness, including anxiety, depression and PTSD.
They said the fear of losing their homes, and the anxiety of an unknown future, would heighten their state of health.
It was a slap in the face that governments felt a car park was more valuable than their homes, they said.
“I fought for this country,” war veteran Alan Thureson said.
“I’ve had PTSD for 40 years and here I am getting kicked in the guts again.
“It’s the pressure and the upheaval in times when homelessness is a huge issue. That’s what makes us worried.”
Resident Janice McConnell said she had moved into the caravan park to be closer to her children.
“I suppose I can move back to the Redlands, but I feel so bad for all these people,” she said.
“This is a place where people look out for each other. What will they do now? Where will they go?”
Transport and Main Roads will host a meeting of residents of the caravan park today (Tuesday).
A spokesperson for the authority said public consultation would continue until November 27, with drop-in community information sessions being held throughout this month to allow people to ask questions and share concerns with project representatives.
“More than 500 properties have been identified within the planning corridor and are potentially impacted,” the spokesperson said.
“The business case is due for completion mid-next year (2023), and will outline timeframes and further refine potential land requirements.
“We will work closely with the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy to assist residents of the Galaxy Caravan Park during this time, including extra measures for vulnerable community members.
“Independent, professional and conditional external counselling services are also available to impacted landowners, tenants and business owners.”
The representative said feedback from those meetings would be considered in the development of the business case.
“The state government and local council already own nearly half of all potentially impacted properties within the planning area,” they said.
“At this early stage of planning, there is no timeframe for when potentially impacted properties may be required to be resumed.”
