After nearly five decades, the Queen Elizabeth Park Trust, which has provided management of a Mount Gambier golf club and holiday park, will no longer exist.
At its February meeting, the Queen Elizabeth Park Trust Board unanimously voted to wind-up the association.
The Trust was established in 1964 to oversee the Blue Lake Public Golf Links and Blue Lake Holiday Park on behalf of Mount Gambier City Council.
It was made up of representatives from City Council and the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce, with an additional independent elected member.
Council’s Governance and Property manager Michael McCarthy reported the Trust and sub-tenants have worked together with council to enable the transfer of lease and assets.
“Following its relinquishing of the Blue Lake Golf Course lease, council suggested to transfer the head lease for the Blue Lake Holiday Park to their sub-tenants, and to wind-up,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Over the course of the past three and a half years the QEPT and the sub-tenants have worked together with the administration to address a range of issues to enable the transfer of the caravan park lease and assets.”
Mr McCarthy said it was finally executed in September 2022.
The Trust was first established to build on the potential of the existing caravan park and transform it into a premier tourist facility.
This vision was later expanded to include the establishment of a nine-hole public golf course on a disused rubbish tip adjacent to the caravan park.
The Blue Lake Public Golf Links opened in January 1980, with a further nine-holes opened in February 1998.
Appointed staff managed the daily operations of the caravan park up until November 2000, when the Trust leased the park to a private operator.
The Trust continued to act as the property manager, taking responsibility for underground services, building structural maintenance and long-term facility development and infrastructure planning.
In December last year an 18-hole mini golf was added to the golf club complex.
Mr McCarthy has recommended council recognise the past and present board members for their service.
“With the winding up of the Trust having been resolved, no further action is required by council in relation to this matter, other than to recognise the efforts of successive Boards and trustees over many decades,” he said.
Mr McCarthy acknowledged the development and maintenance of the caravan park and golf course have become valuable assets for Mount Gambier.
