Cash grab for Crown Lands
The NSW Government is engaged in a mad cash grab from voluntary organizations and charities, it was claimed in Sydney today.
The NSW Government is responsible for the administration of some 30,000 crown land reserves, trusts and sporting complexes. Almost all of these are operated by community based volunteers.
They include the local show grounds, surf life saving clubs, cricket and football grounds, youth centers and camp sites, Scout and Guide halls, and so on.
The Crown Lands Department has now written to all indicating the Government’s need for a better financial return on Crown land and hence forth the local councils, trusts, sporting clubs, surf life saving clubs, youth groups will be charged a commercial rent.
Obviously most of these community groups are not-for-profit organisations that depend upon the fund-raising activities of volunteers, unpaid directors and supporters.
For example five Central Coast surf clubs could be financially crippled by a state government proposal to charge them commercial rents. The surf clubs are built on crown land and are required to pay commercial rent which would cripple these important community services made available to save the lives of people enjoying the beaches.
This act of a Government desperate for money due to its own mis-management, strikes against working families. The rental costs will have to be passed on to children who use the facilities on top of what parents pay for sporting equipment, clothing and game fees. Adults who already give up their weekends and their time after work to train children, supervise community activities, and keep our beaches safe will now have to pay for the privilege.
This is a no-brainer – an hallucination of some bureaucratic bean counter charged with improving the Department’s bottom line. To deem cricket grounds, show grounds, netball courts and surf life-saving clubs liable for commercial rental even at discount rates is a stupidity.
Furthermore, people who raised funds to build club houses, install lighting, plumbing and all the rest will be offered only ten year leases, which is an absolute insult to those who have provided the community facilities.
The NSW Lands Department is proposing full commercial rents be charged on these properties, which could result in an increase of tens of thousands of dollars for clubs even if they are granted a reduction of 50% as some area managers are offering.
The NSW Government through the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority allow prime Rocks Precinct leases at extremely low rents to commercial enterprises. It wastes $300million on a non-existent Sydney rail line and now expects voluntary community groups to pay.
I have been a Trustee of the Mangrove Forest Reserve and has been involved in developing an outstanding youth camp site which has resulted in buildings, a lake, adventure trails, swimming pool and accommodation for 180 under-privileged children and school groups to enjoy holidays in the Australian bush.
This has all been paid for by donations from the community from appeals I have organized. There are no Government capital donations involved but they want to now charge rents based on a commercial value.
The Trustees have selected a fine Not For Profit Youth organization to run programs for underprivileged children, “Youth Insearch” but they have indicated that like any charitable organization they cannot pay such a harsh rent-for-occupancy and lease conditions now proposed by the Department, which even at the lowest cost would add $150,000 to their costs of helping the community’s youth.
I will fight this proposal all the way. Minister Tony Kelly cannot defend this decision and must reverse it immediately. Local Labor members have gone silent on the issue.
REV HON DR GORDON MOYES AC MLC