While the State Government’s Crown Lands Department was busy trashing the invaluable local educational institution, the Marine Discovery Centre in Eden, destroying it & another half a dozen businesses in the name of Cruise Ship tourism, Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) has been doing its part to destroy valuable local community groups through the pursuit of massive rent increases for premises on Crown Lands.
While there is no suggestion that anyone should get a “free ride” when it comes to the use of community assets, previous councils have adopted a far more sympathetic approach to protecting & assisting local not-for-profit community groups than has the current council.
Like its approach to ratepayers more generally, the current council seems very determined to optimise its income from community groups on the one hand, even if it threatens their survival, while providing handouts to developers, engaging in high risk real estate speculation & squandering millions of dollars on highly questionable projects such as Merimbula Airport.
At the same time, the current council does not even have a consistent approach to dealing with community or not-for–profit organisations.
For example, the residential home forming part of the Tura Marrang Library precinct in Tura Beach sat empty for six years because council was too lazy to find a tenant for the building. When it finally acted in February of this year, it leased the building for 21 years to a community organisation for an undisclosed sum although, as best the association can determine, the residence is still not being used for any community purpose.
Meanwhile, back in November, 2017, the current council began a process of increasing rents for community groups occupying council owned or managed properties but even then doing so in a gradual process. For example, the Bermagui Historical Society, Four Winds & Meals on Wheels, all occupants of council’s Gateway Centre in Bermagui, were all hit with increases in their annual rents of 503%, 327% & 429% respectively, albeit over a three year period.
But when it comes to gutting the community already experiencing the worst of times, council’s latest greedy cash grab must take the cake.
In 2015, having occupied the Old Pambula Courthouse in Pambula for many years, the Bega Valley Genealogy Society entered into a five year Licence Agreement with council to continue its occupation of the building for an annual fee of $559.63 (the deemed annual market rental was $55,863 reduced by a factor of 99% under council’s rental rebate policy for not-for-profit community organisations).
Five years on, the current council turns-up, reassesses
the deemed annual rent as $28,050 (half of the initial annual rent set five years previously) but this time decides that the rental rebate should only be 83%, meaning that the new annual rent is $4,768.50, an increase of 852%.
No explanation or justification for this vicious attack on the Society: just cough-up or else.
The proposed rent increase is twice that visited on the occupants of Bermagui’s Gateway Centre back in 2017 but with no phased introduction over three years like they were afforded.
No 21 year lease period like that granted to the mystery lessee of the Tura Marrang Library residence.
Just grab as much cash as possible & run.
Meanwhile, the current
Valuation completed on the
Old Courthouse Building on behalf of council makes it clear that its “l
etting prospects are difficult/hard with few potential tenants in the current market, which is exacerbated by the current heightened level of market uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Leasing demand for the property is currently soft.” meaning that should the
Society decide not to remain in the
Old Courthouse Building, the building will likely remain vacant for an extended period, producing no income at all.
The reality is that the Society cannot enter into the new proposed lease with council for the annual rent proposed. As a community not-for-profit organisation with limited means it simply can’t afford to pay that level of rent.
The association not only believes that council’s approach to this issue is entirely unjustified but amounts to an unconscionable abuse of power.
The association notes that, unlike the Gateway Centre rent increases approved back in 2017, the proposed increase was not presented to the elected council for formal consideration & approval.
The
Society has appealed for support from residents & ratepayers, requesting them to contact
Bega Valley Shire Councillors, along with
State &
Federal Members of Parliament, seeking their assistance to persuade council to reconsider the proposed exorbitant annual rent increase.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au