A Victorian caravan park has been fined $475,000 after being found guilty of safety failings that led to the death of a camper in 2021. 

The Melbourne County Court convicted Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park Pty Ltd, operators of the BIG4 Yarra Valley Holiday Park, for failing to ensure a safe workplace.

The court ruled that the company did not meet its duty to manage risks associated with falling tree branches. 

This failure resulted in the death of a camper, who sustained fatal head injuries when a tree branch fell onto his tent during the night in March 2021.

WorkSafe investigations revealed that the park had not engaged an arborist for a comprehensive tree assessment since 2015. 

Additionally, the park lacked a documented system for inspecting trees or policies specifying the frequency of inspections. 

Following the incident, an examination of 277 trees at the site identified 137 requiring risk mitigation, with 85 flagged for urgent attention within a year.

The court heard that routine arborist inspections could have significantly reduced the risk of falling branches. 

A jury determined it was “reasonably practicable” for the park to employ an arborist annually and act on their recommendations.

As part of the penalty, the court also imposed an adverse publicity order. 

The park is required to publicise the details of the offence, its consequences, and the penalty in an industry publication.

WorkSafe provided several recommendations for managing tree safety, including consultation with arborists, developing inspection policies, and ensuring regular checks, especially after severe weather. 

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