A leaked Clarence Valley Council email has ignited outrage among semi-permanent caravan owners after it was confirmed as an internal communication mocking their situation. The email, which suggested council staff could dress as Miley Cyrus on wrecking balls and “knock over caravans,” was distributed to multiple internal departments across council, including offices in Grafton and Maclean, libraries, and workshops.
Initially met with scepticism, the authenticity of the email was verified through full documentation obtained by community representatives. Council staff themselves were reportedly shocked by the content, with some choosing to leak it because they believed it was inappropriate.
Simon, speaking on behalf of the semi-permanent caravan owners’ group, said the email shows “a toxic culture where community members are laughed at from within the very organisation meant to serve them.”
Clarence Valley Council General Manager Laura Black appeared on ABC Radio’s breakfast program with Bridie Tanner on Monday, immediately after Simon raised concerns. Black defended the council, framing the email as one of several “suggestions” that staff wisely chose not to proceed with.
“The Miley Cyrus one was considered insensitive … but there are plenty of staff who said that’s insensitive, it’s not going to go down well, and it will be misinterpreted. And I think that’s probably what’s happened,” she said.
Mayor Ray Smith later dismissed a formal complaint about the email, echoing the same language used by Black in her radio appearance. This coordinated response has raised questions about whether the council leadership is seeking to minimise the seriousness of the incident rather than acknowledge the hurt it has caused.
For the caravan owners, the issue goes far beyond a poorly judged joke. The group represents a highly vulnerable demographic – pensioners, war veterans, and people with serious health issues – who are facing eviction from sites many have held for decades. Families have described the loss of multi-generational holiday traditions, alongside the devastating risk of immediate homelessness for some.
“We’re talking about people who invested their superannuation, who took out loans, who poured their life savings into these vans,” Simon explained. “Some only bought in as recently as December 2024, and now they’re looking at financial ruin. To know the council is joking about wrecking balls knocking down caravans while people are losing everything – it’s crushing.”
Mental health among the group has already deteriorated, with members describing feelings of despair and betrayal after learning the very organisation overseeing their future was mocking them behind closed doors.
The controversy comes as the dispute heads into expensive legal proceedings. Semi-permanent site holders are fighting terminations through NCAT, with potential escalation to the Land and Environment Court. Simon warned that the financial burden of this process will fall not only on caravan owners but on ratepayers funding the council’s legal fees.
“Every single email, every appearance, costs money. We’re looking at millions of dollars in legal fees before a single hearing has been finalised – all because of an operational decision handed down by the General Manager,” he said.
The community are now questioning the broader culture within Clarence Valley Council. The fact that such an email was circulated so widely has led many to believe this is not an isolated lapse in judgement but a symptom of a deeper issue.
“When an organisation feels it’s acceptable to circulate a mockery of its own community, something is very wrong,” Simon said. “This isn’t about one joke, it’s about leadership, accountability, and respect for the people you are meant to serve.”
The caravan owners’ group is calling for greater transparency and an independent review of council culture, urging local leaders to rebuild trust with a community already under immense strain.
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