By Belinda Nolan
THE former operator of Horseshoe Bend Farm has hit back at claims the farm was closed due to financial difficulties.
Parks Victoria shut down the popular tourist destination last month, claiming that Mambourin, the company running the farm, had terminated the lease due to financial difficulties.
But Mambourin CEO Rohan Braddy last week told Star his organisation was not in financial trouble and did not have a lease on the site.
The disability service began operating the farm in July last year, after taking over Westnet, the company that had been running the farm for around five years.
Mr Braddy said that Mambourin did not have a lease on the site but had continued to operate it in good faith while negotiations for a new lease proceeded.
Mr Braddy said his company had decided to pull out of the farm after the negotiations failed.
“Parks Victoria played hard ball, refusing to vary the previous lease in any way, shape or form,” he said.
“The previous lease had more than 70 clauses in it which were not acceptable to us and any one was strong enough to be a deal-breaker.”
Mr Braddy said the organisation had donated the animals, including alpacas, sheep and peacocks to Parks Victoria so the new operators did not have to start from scratch.
Mr Braddy said Parks Victoria’s comments that the farm was closed due to financial difficulties were incorrect.
“Mambourin is not in financial difficulties and the business did not fail,” Mr Braddy said.
“We are in fact in a very strong position and getting stronger all the time.”
Parks Victoria last week admitted its claims were incorrect and apologised to Mr Braddy on behalf of Mambourin.
Parks Victoria is currently calling for expressions of interest to lease and manage the farm, revealing that it would consider alternative uses for the site.
