THE man who owns the Mudgeeraba caravan park that has been described as a ghetto has a million-dollar real estate portfolio.

Robert Purcell’s Mudgeeraba Holiday Village has been called “the worst place on the Gold Coast” with people paying around $200 a week to live in ramshackle caravans and even old buses.

Residents say drug abuse is rampant and claim the park has become a haven for violent vagrants.

Property records show Mr Purcell, who is believed to take in more than $12,000 a week in rents, has a number of properties on the Gold Coast.

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Gold Coast’s van park shame media_camera Gold Coast’s van park shame: Mudgeeraba Caravan Village. Picture: Gary Howard. 1 of 13 media_camera Gold Coast’s van park shame: The drained pool at Mudgeeraba Caravan Village. Picture: Gary Howard. 2 of 13 media_camera Gold Coast’s van park shame: Mudgeeraba Caravan Village. Picture: Gary Howard. 3 of 13 media_camera Gold Coast’s van park shame: Mark Farrugia left, and Matthew Russell talking to residents. Picture: Gary Howard. 4 of 13 nav_small_close Want to see more?( 9 more photos in collection )Continue to full gallery nav_small_left nav_small_right

He spent $930,000 on an apartment block on Chevron Island in 2008 and a further $300,000 for a beachside unit on Laycock St in Surfers Paradise in 2006.

He also owns the land the caravan park is on and a $260,000 unit in Mudgeeraba.

Mr Purcell was convicted of illegally selling home-brew alcohol and threatening a caravan resident with a replica gun.

Mr Purcell yesterday admitted to a questionable past but criticised reports his park was overcharging tenants.

“(The gun) was only a joke,” he said. “This (expletive) came up and gave me a mouthful and I had found this plastic gun in a van the day before and told him to watch out before I give him a pop.

“The rents here are very reasonable and if you have cheap rent you will have that sort of problem with those people.”

media_camera Mudgeeraba Holiday Village Caravan Park resident Bluey relaxes at home. Picture: David Clark

Resident Kim Thomas, 40, has lived in the caravan park for most of her life and keeps a tomahawk by her front door for safety.

“I lived here when I was 18 and even had my 21st here,” she said.

“Bob (Purcell) is like a dad to me and if it wasn’t for him I’d have nowhere to go.

“It can get a bit violent but we tend to run the trouble makers out of here and I keep an axe by my door to stay safe.

“This place is better than other caravan parks which have too many rules and that’s why we like it here.”

media_camera Kim Thomas, with a tomahawk above her door, has lived at the caravan village since she was 18. Pic by David Clark

Authorities are powerless to shut down the Mudgeeraba caravan park, with the Department of Housing saying tenants are not willing to move.

Mudgeeraba councillor Glenn Tozer said the council’s hands were tied by legislation but promised to keep pushing for results — despite the council having achieved little in the past four years.

“We have been continually working with agencies to make sure people are being looked after,” he said.

“We have been working strategically to make sure breaches have been identified and some areas there have been improvements.

“In other areas the standard of living has fluctuated.”

media_camera One of the vans at the Mudgeeraba Holiday Village Caravan Park. Picture: David Clark

A spokesman for Gold Coast City Council said it would be “inappropriate to comment, via the media, on what actions have been taken”.

Senior Sergeant Mark Anderson of Mudgeeraba Police said living conditions at the caravan park were “horrific” and questioned how the place could exist in a first-world country.

“The scary thing is this caravan park is just around the corner from the Glitter Strip and popular tourist destinations,” he said.

“It needs to be cleaned up because it drains our resources and creates a very dangerous place for drug users.”

media_camera A visit to the Mudgeeraba Holiday Village Caravan Park to see how those who are doing it tough live. Picture: David Clark

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