Long-term occupant Susan Kennedy said she was "devastated" to be told by the Gore District Council residents had to be out by November 13.
In an announcement released at 9am yesterday, the council said after years of trying to resolve "ongoing issues" with the park, it was terminating the lease.
Moments later, council staff could be seen knocking on the doors of caravans and units in the park and handing occupants their eviction notices.
Mrs Kennedy has lived for about three years in a caravan in the corner of the camp with her husband, Garry, and dog, Carla.
After selling their house to live in a trailer, the pair laid down roots in the park, planting a garden and building a wooden deck in front of their mobile home.
Having carved out such a "nice spot" for themselves in the camp was what made the eviction so devastating, she said.
"We’ve got a lot of things going on and, yeah, the move’s going to be horrific," she said.
However, they had wondered how much longer the park would go on after operator Nicholas Irons took over in 2022, and the grounds and facilities deteriorated.
"You just need to take a look around, don’t you?" she said.
A new resident, who wished only to be known as Logan, was also unhappy to receive the news, as he had just moved in over the weekend.
He said he moved into the park to improve his situation, after previously living in a garage, and, as rent was so cheap, to clear his debt — "I’m doing this for my benefit."
He was just in the process of getting her vaccinated so she could interact with other pets at the camp.
Yesterday, Gore District Council chief executive Debbie Lascelles said for some time the campground had been used for long-term accommodation, which was not permitted.
"We do not believe the conditions at the campground are adequate for vulnerable people who end up living there long-term," she said.
The council said it had received ongoing complaints about the condition of the park and the health and safety of the residents.
Resident David Ross said it was "a shame" to see the place go, as it was a place to stay for people who really needed it.
However, it had been very poorly managed and in terms of cleaning the toilets and other standards, nothing had really been done, he said.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said since Mr Irons had taken over, the park, once clean and tidy, had become run down.
"I’m surprised that it hasn’t happened any sooner," he said.
"It’s untidy ... it’s pathetic. You’ve got grass [that is] even growing bushes."
The campground has been dogged by accusations it is an unsafe environment which has been taken over by gangs.
Mr Irons told the Otago Daily Times in 2023 the accusations were "rumours" and the camp was providing a valuable community service.
