AN UPPER Murray caravan park being strangled by red-tape in the clean-up from the recent bushfires has had a major breakthrough with its operator being able to access free help after all. Mt Mittamatite Caravan Park had its camp sites, cabins, toilet block and cleaning shed severely damaged in the fires with manager Stuart Spratt embarking on a clean-up before the federal and state government announced funding for remediation. But a deal involving the state government, Towong Shire and contractor Grocon has been brokered in recent days for him to get free assistance. The only downer remains the park is almost certain to be off-limits to visitors for the upcoming Man From Snowy River Bush Festival in early April. "We've had some action," Mr Spratt said. "It would have been nice to have caravans here with their own power and stuff because they want to come here and help us. "They want to stay, but I can't guarantee the rubble is going to be gone. "It is going to be a hard decision to make because I am going to let more than 100 people down." The situation was raised at Towong Shire this week with acting chief executive Len Jenner revealing details of the break-through. "It sounds strange, but the dilemma is if Mr Spratt hadn't done the work he did, Grocon would have been able to do that work for him," Mr Jenner said. "In the last couple of days the state government has accepted our advocacy to them on behalf of Mr Spratt and has agreed to either change the Grocon contract to allow them to finish off Mr Spratt's work or get a second contractor in to do the work."
AN UPPER Murray caravan park being strangled by red-tape in the clean-up from the recent bushfires has had a major breakthrough with its operator being able to access free help after all.
But a deal involving the state government, Towong Shire and contractor Grocon has been brokered in recent days for him to get free assistance.
The only downer remains the park is almost certain to be off-limits to visitors for the upcoming Man From Snowy River Bush Festival in early April.
"We've had some action," Mr Spratt said.
"It would have been nice to have caravans here with their own power and stuff because they want to come here and help us.
"They want to stay, but I can't guarantee the rubble is going to be gone.
"It is going to be a hard decision to make because I am going to let more than 100 people down."
The situation was raised at Towong Shire this week with acting chief executive Len Jenner revealing details of the break-through.
"It sounds strange, but the dilemma is if Mr Spratt hadn't done the work he did, Grocon would have been able to do that work for him," Mr Jenner said.
"In the last couple of days the state government has accepted our advocacy to them on behalf of Mr Spratt and has agreed to either change the Grocon contract to allow them to finish off Mr Spratt's work or get a second contractor in to do the work."
