By Jeremy Sollars
The Stanthorpe Sports Association (SSA) has blasted the Southern Downs Regional Council over its refusal to waive a $1730 building application fee for a new announcer’s box the SSA installed at the council-owned McGlew Sporting Complex at a cost of $30,000.
The SSA wrote to the council in mid-July asking for a waiver of the fee, pointing out that the new announcer’s box represents a $30,000 improvement by the not-for-profit group to a council-owned facility.
Funding for the announcer’s box came from a Gambling Community Benefit Grant.
The SSA’s letter was sent to Councillor Yve Stocks, who is the Portfolio Councillor for Events, Sport and Recreation, but the reply to the SSA dated 14 August came from the council’s chief executive officer David Keenan.
Mr Keenan told the SSA the council provides non-profit organisations with a 50 per cent discount on building approvals and that “feedback” from such groups around the region “has been in support of this incentive from Southern Downs Regional Council”.
Mr Keenan stated in his reply the SSA’s request for a waiver had been “discussed” by councillors, who had agreed not to grant it and to “maintain” the 50 per cent discount.
The CEO also stated that “other private businesses” issue building approvals “and it would seem inappropriate (for the council) to be offering a free service in direct competition with the private sector”.
Writing on behalf of the SSA, its furious president Col Britton fired back a second letter, this time to Mayor Tracy Dobie and the councillors, reminding them the SSA has “for many years been significantly improving council owned facilities at little or no cost to council”.
“If you wish me to believe that other not for profit groups enjoy and agree to paying fees that is an absolute cover up of the truth, I don’t know of any not for profit that feels it should be paying to improve council owned facilities,” Mr Britton wrote.
“The CEO’s comment around private business has no bearing on the issue of why not for profit organisations should be working their butts off in their spare time to improve facilities for the community on what is council owned land and in my opinion already a council responsibility.
“It is just embarrassing that council allegedly has made claims it has $50 million in the bank but will not encourage the community who is saving the council millions of dollars by proactively improving council facilities at no cost to the council.”
The SSA was forced to pay the $1730 up front but will receive half of that amount back, with Mr Britton pointing out that even $865 is a “significant amount” for a not-for-profit community group.
Mr Britton also asked for details on when the discussion between councillors about the SSA waiver request took place, as he could find no record of it in council meeting minutes.
The SSA is now awaiting the council’s further response.
