Inverell NSW - Page member there on 18 March 2013 and it was still no camping in the showground and has been for the past two years. Inverell Council resolves to do nothing By Steve Green July 26, 2012, 11:04 p.m. A REQUEST for financial assistance by the Inverell Showground Trust was knocked back by Inverell Shire Council. Inverell Showground Trust made a request for assistance from council to meet part of the assessed Developer Servicing Plan (DSP) charges associated with the development of a primitive camping ground at the Inverell Showground. The DSP charges totalled $44,000 and the Showground Trust approached council to contribute half of that amount. In a letter to council dated June 18 the chairman of the Inverell Showground Trust, David Adams, outlined the trust’s difficulties in establishing ‘primitive camping status’ for the showground. “The council gave us preliminary approval for our application, pending some upgrades and safety aspects being met…” Mr Adams wrote. “The trust realises it must pay all relevant fees and charges that are attached to the running cost of any commercial business. However, an entity such as the Inverell Showground cannot be viewed as a commercial business…” “…It is simply not within our means to fund a loan in excess of $44,000, and the irony is that without the added income that budget camping will provide, the showground finances will eventually deplete to unsustainable levels because of our inability to keep pace with ever increasing charges that a ground of our nature faces.” At Tuesday’s monthly council meeting Cr Barry Johnston said his concern was the element of fairness and moved that council take no action on the matter. “I think if somebody invests their funds into a business, they take all the risks and maintain the standards, they pay rates to this council, they pay for services to this council,” Cr Johnston said. “For an organisation to come that doesn’t have to supply the land, doesn’t have to pay tax, doesn’t have to pay rates, I believe is a little unfair as far as competition is concerned, and therefore I don’t think it’s something council should subsidise…if they want to run a business like you and I want to run a business, you find the money yourself…” Cr Larry Cameron said he supported Cr Johnston and added that council needed to know the Showground and the Showground Trust came under the control of the Crown Land Division of NSW. “That department is undergoing an enormous upheaval and review at this time and all trusts are going to be affected,” Cr Cameron said. “I think council should not act and wait for a while and just see what happens to the Showground Trust.” Cr Johnston’s resolution that he council take no action was passed. Source inverelltimes.au
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:57:09 +0000
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