The future of the Corryong Sporting Complex is in limbo following failed negotiations with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning over a 2000 per cent increase in the rental for the club’s site.
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The complex board was shocked when it received notification from DELWP in September last year that the annual lease fee would jump from $1200 to $23,500 per year.
The recreation reserve is on Crown land.
“There had been no consultation with us or warning about the huge increase,” complex president Graham Pfeiffer said.
“The proposed $22,000 hike is outrageous and shows no understanding and consideration of the club’s history, its current financial position nor its importance or future as a community facility.
“Such a rent increase would seriously threaten our financial viability to maintain the site including the golf course and would preclude any improvements to our facilities.
“It could eventually result in the closure of the sporting complex.”
The complex has been hamstrung in its endeavours to improve its facilities as it is not eligible for government grants because it has gaming machines – despite government advice to the contrary when they were installed.
It has been necessary for the golf and tennis clubs to become standalone entities to try and get funding.
The board appealed its case to DELWP but was advised that a separate, independent valuation would be required before the department would consider the club’s position.
The department said that “the previous rental did not fairly reflect the commercial activities undertaken by the Corryong Sporting Complex Inc on the subject property.”
“The government policy is very subjective and we have not received adequate information from DELWP about how the valuation was determined nor a copy of their valuation report, despite repeated requests,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
“They say the report is confidential which makes it difficult to compare apples with apples in a separate valuation.”
“We need the government to understand that the club is an important part of our remote community that provides sporting, social and entertainment opportunities.
“Its loss would be a severe blow to the district,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
“This rent increase has come as a real slap in the face and could result in the closure of a valued community asset,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
While the dispute with DELWP continues the Committee of Management of the recreation reserve has negotiated a rent of $2400 with the complex for the next 12 months.
