Lake Mac Holiday Parks to close from Thursday
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the closure to tourists of all four Lake Mac Holiday Parks from Thursday 26 March.
Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Property and Business Development David Antcliff said the decision was heartbreaking but necessary given the current situation.
“Our four Lake Mac Holiday Park sites will reopen to tourists as soon as possible in line with health guidance,” Mr Antcliff said.
“This time over Easter is traditionally one of our busiest periods, but with the spread of COVID-19 and the Australian Government’s warnings against non-essential travel, temporary closure was the only sensible option.”
The holiday parks – Swansea Lakeside, Belmont Lakeside, Wangi Wangi and Blacksmiths Beachside – will remain open to permanent on-site residents, totalling about 20 across the four sites.
Provisions will be made for tourists already in the parks who are unable to return home due to travel restrictions.
Customers with future bookings are being contacted, and are eligible for either a refund or a credit to be used in the next 12 months.
“We are expecting an influx of cancellation, re-booking and refund requests over the next few days,” Mr Antcliff said.
“We’ll do our best to answer requests coming in by phone, but we’re encouraging people to visit www.lakemacholidayparks.com.au/covid-19. This will save you waiting on hold on the phone, and will streamline the process for everyone.”
“We are conscious of travellers making their way home needing a single-night stopover on the way, and we will do our best to help accommodate this need. We ask that those in transit contact our parks prior to arrival, on 1800 626 438.”
Lake Mac Holiday Parks contracts 25 staff across its four sites for reception, cleaning, maintenance and landscaping duties.
“We will review our staffing levels to adjust to this sudden downturn in business, doing whatever we can to retain jobs and provide work at our sites,” Mr Antcliff said.
Mr Antcliff said the situation would continue to be reviewed, with the aim of reopening “as soon as it is responsible to do so”.
“We apologise for any disappointment this decision might cause, but hope we can welcome more visitors in the not-too-distant future.”
