Sent: Thursday, 4 December 2008
To: Paul Anderson
Subject: Tuross Halls

 

Good morning Paul,

I write to you in the spirit of openness and forthrightness that we spoke about in our meeting last month. It has come to my attention of a rumour that the council intends to sell one of the halls in Tuross. Is there any substance to this rumour? Is there any information that you could impart to me concerning this matter? We have a meeting of the Progress Association this evening and I am sure that this matter will be raised. It would be most helpful if you could assist in this matter.

Kindest regards

Michael Johnson

President

Tuross Head Progress Association

From: Warren Sharpe
To: Michael
Cc: Paul Anderson ;
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009

Michael,

This issue has not been submitted to or considered by Council.

It is correct that the extent of funding required to maintain and renew the many assets Council owns and operates across the Shire exceeds the available funds. Council is therefore developing asset management plans with associated long term financial plans for all of its assets over the next few years. Critically reviewing our asset portfolio will be but one of the many strategies we will need to consider as a community moving forward.

If the community has thoughts on the current issues they see as needing attention with either of the halls, we would be happy to meet with community representatives so we can take account of the community views (on top of the issues we have identified ourselves).

We are also aware of the recently announced grant funds available for halls, although there is no guarantee of success. We are reviewing the needs of our halls at the moment in relation to the grant opportunity that has presented itself. There is a considerable amount of work required across the Shire and funding for the most pressing need will be pursued.

If you wish to discuss further, Paul and/or myself would be happy to meet with you. Please contact Cheryl McFarlane on 44741358 if you wish to arrange same.

 

Warren Sharpe

GROUP MANAGER

ROADS & RECREATION SERVICES

Fw: Tuross Halls
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
To: "Anderson, Paul" <gm@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au>

Good morning Paul,
I received a call from the mayor Fergus Thompson on last Thursday, 29th January to tell me that the council was considering whether Tuross needed to have two halls and whether they were worth their keep. He advised me that it would be in the community's interest to consider whether we wanted to keep both or whether we wanted to keep one and sell the other and, if so, what we would like to see the money raised from the sale used for etc etc.
I will bring this matter up at our next Progress Association meeting and we will discuss the situation and, possibly, ask Fergus to come and address us as he has offered to do.
As you can see this is a long way from the correspondence we received from Warren Sharpe, whose response was over six weeks after our request for information on the matter and, quite frankly, less that forthright.
A lot of people from this community of the Eurobodalla Shire were hoping that with a change of GM we may see less of this sort of thing happening. I, and other representatives of the Progress Association, would be happy to meet with you to discuss the matter, but what would you tell us?

Regards
Michael Johnson
President
Progress Association Tuross Head

Hall committee throws down the gauntlet 22/4/09

BY SALLY FOY
22/04/2009

The Shire Council should prepare itself for a battle should it decide to sell the historic Tuross Head Progress Hall.. That was the promise yesterday, by Tuross Head Association members, as they prepared to confront council over reports it would reclassify the land on which the historically listed building sits, a precursor to the sale.

Association secretary Ted Williams said the group had been chasing council for answers for months. Their biggest concern was ensuring that once sold, council would protect the sale proceeds for the Tuross Head community.

Mr Williams said council gave no response to their direct questions but issued a statement that read: “Council is considering reclassifying the Progress Hall property to operational land in the new Local Environment Plan with a view to selling or redeveloping the site”.

Council invited the association to discuss the matter five months ago but Mr Williams said that until now they had declined the offer.

“What’s the point of going to talk about things when they refuse to answer the questions we had already directed to them?” Mr Williams said.

“They’ve already got to the point of having it changed for the LEP so it doesn’t exactly promote having a discussion.”

The role of the association since 1947 has been to encourage progress in Tuross Head. Association member Lei Parker said the Progress Hall was built in the late 1940s on land gifted to Tuross by its people.

“The whole parcel of land was originally given to the people of Tuross, who thereupon built the hall with donations and labour and love,” Mr Parker said.

“The hall and the land it sits on therefore absolutely and ethically belong to the people of Tuross.”

Mr Parker said that if council considered going through with the sale, questions regarding ownership would be asked.

“We have endeavoured to gain all facts regarding ownership of the hall and questions regarding ownership and the current heritage order would absolutely be asked,” he said.

 

date Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Dear community member

Thank you for your interest in the future of Kyla Park Hall. I have spoken to most of you regarding the reasoning behind this committee meeting, but for those that I haven’t spoken to, here is a brief.

During Council renovations at Kyla Park Hall earlier this year, Council staff found severe structural damage to the building as a result of white ant ingress. Engineers were called to assess the damage and found most of the structure of the building (walls and some trusses) had been affected. As a result, the hall has been closed to the public for some months now.

Builders have estimated the cost to reinstate the hall is in the range of $250,000, and Council is currently going through processes with our insurers in an attempt to receive funding for the works through our insurance policy.

Although this issue is unfortunate for the local community, it now gives us an opportunity to review the hall and its current uses, look at its potential uses and redesign the building to allow the hall to be a focal point of the local community once again.

Council’s intent is to meet with the user groups and interested parties to get initial discussions underway, thereafter a small group will form a committee to pull together the wants and needs and commence work on a layout to best suit the function of the building.

The first meeting is to be held at the Tuross Head Country Club on Wednesday 22nd of September at 4pm. I anticipate that this meeting will go for an hour, and although I do not expect final outcomes from this meeting, I welcome input from all interested parties to ensure the hall can be utilised to its full potential.

I hope to see you there.

Thank you
Chris Tague

Facilities Management

Eurobodalla Shire Council

 

 

date Tues Sept 21st , 2010 at 11:00am

Chris,
Thanks for the reminder.

From the point of view of three interested parties representing the Tuross head progress Association attending tomorro there is outstanding correspondence in regards to the Kyla Hall that will be raised and require some absolute answers on prior to any discussions as to where we go to next.

The letter, attached, was originally sent to Council in Dec 2009 and was resent in June 2010.

In a nutshell the following answers will be sought at tomorrows meeting

Can Council please advise the Tuross Head Progress Association and the Tuross Head Community as to:

* How the hall managed to be allowed to fall into such rapid disrepair knowing that the hall was solid and sound when handed over to ESC in February 2002.
* Can Eurobodalla Shire Council provide to the THPA and residents of Tuross Head the same evidence of annual building inspections being carried out and provide copies and dates of all the pest inspections carried out since taking over management of the facility as would have been provided to Councils insurers in order to lodge the claim they refer to.
* How it was that a termite infestation was left unchecked for so long especially in light of Council having full knowledge of a previous attack in the late 1990’s that saw restoration works asa result of termite damage to the Hall carried by Campbell Page under Council direction.
* exactly what happened to the service set that was left in the kitchen able to service 120 guests
* What does Council now see as the short and long term options for Kyla Hall
* how does council hope to raise the $240,000 identified as the repair bill
* what will happen if Council cannot raise these funds
* Does Council still intend to rationalise the two public halls in Tuross into just the one facility
* Whether, in light of Councils desire to rationalise our community halls, does Council still propose to change the classification of the Progress Hall to operational with a view to selling it to now pay for repairs to Kyla Hall.

The letter (attached) raises the unresolved state of there being two halls.

Is the intent of refurbishment of the Kyla Hall Counciils way of heralding the imminent sale of the Progress land so that the community ends up with one good hall.....

The Tuross Head Progress Association representing this community need to be equally informed of the bigger picture before making descisions on the minor detail of layout and kitchen cupboard colours.

Council did invite the THPA Executive to a meeting to discuss the Halls.

I contacted Council and advised them that we would welcome a time and place at their convienience. As yet there has been no further discussion of the matter, either by phone or in writing.

That meeting between the THPA and the Council needs to happen. The letter, as attached still stands unresolved.

It is intended that the THPA learn of Councils proposals in regards to our halls and then we, the Progress Association organise our own on-line/in-steet survey of all local residents using our own very effective mechanisms and then advise Council of the community's determinations.

Tomorrows meeting will be of considerable interest to the community and will be reported to them. As will the answers to the above questions.

we look forward to seeing you and beginning the process.

regards
lei parker
THPA secretary

MINUTES OF KYLA PARK HALL REVIEW COMMITTEE
MEETING HELD AT
TUROSS HEAD COUNTRY CLUB
WEDNESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 2010
COMMENCING AT 4.00PM

Kyla Hall forum a positive step forward - 22nd September Minutes

On Wednesday September 2nd a community forum was called of interested residents and groups to discuss the future of the Kyla Hall

Chaired by Councillor Keith Dance he advised the group of the purpose of the meeting and the process Council proposes to take so that, working together with the community, they can move forward to design an upgraded hall facility at Kyla Oval that will meet the current and future needs of the community. Council’s Director for Roads and Recreation, Warren Sharpe, provided the group with an overview of the Kyla Park Hall and its current status with the extent of damage from termite intrusion.

He agreed that this presented an opportunity to work with the community to redesign the building to ensure a maximisation in the potential and utilisation of the facility to address the current needs of the community (rather than those that existed when it was built many years ago). It was noted that maximising utilisation of any future hall needed to be considered so as to provide for the on-going maintenance needs. In relation to the future of the Tuross Progress Hall, it was advised that the future of this hall would be determined in consultation with and by the community. It could be argued that the utilisation currently did not support two halls, and therefore the
on-going need for two halls in Tuross Heads was questionable. It was suggested by some present that the proceeds of the sale of the Tuross Progress Hall could be utilised to fund the upgrade of a hall with a new layout and adequate parking at Kyla Oval, which could ultimately service the community better. This would include
improved accessibility.

In response to a question from Maureen Baker, it was advised that the upgrade of the Kyla Hall was not conditional upon the sale of the Tuross Progress Hall. However, Warren confirmed that there were currently no funds available for the upgrade of the Kyla Oval Hall and it may be some time before such funding could
be provided otherwise.

Comments by Michael Johnson, representing the Tuross Progress Association, indicated that he promotes the concept of the community designing, building, maintaining and operating the hall themselves.
Lal Byers, representing Eurobodalla Soccer Federation, confirmed that Soccer wants to have its Shire base at Kyla Park sporting complex. They are willing to work with Council to present a proposal of works required to make Kyla Park sporting complex their home base for representative fixtures and the soccer federation have funds to contribute to these works, including the Kyla Park Hall reconstruction. They would also be seeking improvements to Kyla oval (irrigation, lighting etc).

Lei Parker, representing the Tuross Head Progress Association, supported the idea that it is fair and reasonable that the sale of the Tuross Progress Hall fund the upgrades of the Kyla Hall. During the redesign phase, Council should look at the option of an upper level whereby it may be leased out to a commercial operator for weddings and functions. Warren indicated that a second storey would require a lift at significant capital and ongoing
maintenance cost, and whilst the idea of a second storey could be considered, a strong business case would need to be developed to gain support for such an option. Stafford Dixon requested Warren Sharpe provide a sale valuation of the progress hall land to the next committee meeting. It was agreed to provide an initial estimate of the value to the next meeting. Stafford also asked to look into the option of relocating the Tuross Progress Hall to the Kyla Park sporting complex. This notion was not widely supported. Further discussion then focussed on the needs of individual user groups and how those needs may be met in the hall. Initial requirements were identified as follows:

• Sue Lunn (representing those users involved in exercise et al) indicated that they required the large
open space of the hall, ideally a small stage for their instructor and that they do not use the showers or
change rooms. Lei Parker wants to allow space for a public performance area and a community library. Cathy Milliken requires a commercially fitted-out kitchen. Those involved in sailing indicated they wanted
the facility back up and running and would forward their requirements to Chris Tague directly

It was agreed that the way forward would be to form a Committee selected by the group to act as a sunset ‘Steering Committee’ for the new design. This Committee would be the conduit for information and ideas to/from various users and the community. Once some concept plans were developed these would need to be considered by Council prior to consultation with the broader community.

Councillor Dance and Warren encouraged the Steering Committee to be involved in the construction phase as well once that stage was reached. An advisory committee (potentially via the THPA) could then be involved in working with Council once the upgraded hall was built to ensure the community was involved and had access to information regarding the on-going maintenance and management of the hall. Warren also indicated that all meeting minutes in regard to the Steering Committee should be made available to the public via the Committee members and the Tuross News so as to keep the broader community informed of progress.

The group then determined to nominate key persons to form a sunset ‘Steering Committee’ to consolidate the ideas of the community and work on designs for the reconstruction of Kyla Hall. The names put forward were:
• Councillor Keith Dance (Chair)
• Roz Payne – representing exercise groups
• Chris Zachariadis – representing scouts
• Rob Rixon – representing sailing and one of the original
committee members
• Lal Byers – representing soccer
• Ian Traynor – representing Tuross Head Business Owners
Association
• Michael Johnson – representing Tuross Progress
Association
• Representative from cricket to be advised
• Chris Tague (Eurobodalla Shire Council)

It was pointed out that all users would need to be consulted to aid in gathering information as to the uses and desirable inclusions. The next meeting is to be held at 4pm on Thursday 14th October with the venue to be advised.

Thanks to ESC for the supply of these minutes

To print the minutes of this meeting please click here

8th October, 2010

The General Manager
EUROBODALLA SHIRE COUNCIL
PO Box 99
MORUYA NSW 2537

Re Kyla Hall

Dear Sir,

At the Tuross Head Progress Association meeting last night it was the general view of the members that Council HAS NOT answered on three occasions the questions we have put to them in regards to the Kyla Hall.

To be frank it is now widely believed that Council is being evasive of our questions and
has shown a disregard and disrespect in both not answering our very pointed questions and also not responding at all to our letters in any form that acknowledges the concerns and questioning we raise.

In order to proceed in restoration of Kyla Hall this community requires some absolute answers prior to any discussions as to where we go to next.

The letter, attached below , was originally sent to Council in Dec 2009 and was resent in June 2010.

In a nutshell answers to the following questions are sought and ideally these answers will be prepared and presented to the Sunset Committee meeting of October 14th to be chaired by Clr Keith Dance.

Can Council please advise the Tuross Head Progress Association and the Tuross Head Community as to:

* How the hall managed to be allowed to fall into such rapid disrepair knowing that the hall was solid and sound when handed over to ESC in February 2002.
* Can Eurobodalla Shire Council provide to the THPA and residents of Tuross Head the same evidence of annual building inspections being carried out and provide copies and dates of all the pest inspections carried out since taking over management of the facility as would have been provided to Councils insurers in order to lodge the claim they refer to.
* How it was that a termite infestation was left unchecked for so long especially in light of Council having full knowledge of a previous attack in the late 1990’s that saw restoration works as a result of termite damage to the Hall carried by Campbell Page under Council direction.
* exactly what happened to the service set that was left in the kitchen able to service 120 guests
* What does Council now see as the short and long term options for Kyla Hall
* how does council hope to raise the $240,000 identified as the repair bill
* what will happen if Council cannot raise these funds
* Does Council still intend to rationalise the two public halls in Tuross into just the one facility
* Whether, in light of Councils desire to rationalise our community halls, does Council still propose to change the classification of the Progress Hall to operational with a view to selling it to now pay for repairs to Kyla Hall.

The letter (attached) raises the unresolved state of there being two halls.

Is the intent of refurbishment of the Kyla Hall Council’s way of heralding the imminent sale of the Progress land so that the community ends up with one good hall.....

The Tuross Head Progress Association representing this community need to be equally informed of the bigger picture before making decisions on the minor detail of layout and kitchen cupboard colours.

Council did invite the THPA Executive to a meeting to discuss the Halls.

I contacted Council and advised them that we would welcome a time and place at their convenience. As yet there has been no further discussion of the matter, either by phone or in writing.

That meeting between the THPA and the Council needs to happen. The letter, as attached still stands unresolved.

It is intended that the THPA learn of Councils proposals in regards to our halls and then we, the Progress Association organise our own on-line/in-steet survey of all local residents using our own very effective mechanisms and then advise Council of the community's determinations.

There are many in the community who now wish to go public – I resist at present by asking once again that answers to the above be provided as soon as possible and ideally at the Sunset Upcoming Meeting

This community has lost a $250,000 hall due to Council mismanagement and negligence. This must be acknowledged by Council and an apology and explaination made to the community for that loss.

We now look forward to your prompt reply.

Yours faithfully

Michael Johnson
President Tuross Head Progress Association

Kyla Park Hall questions remain
BY SALLY FOY 27 Oct, 2010

The Tuross Progress Association is at loggerheads with Eurobodalla Shire Council after questions went unanswered.

At a recent council meeting Cr Keith Dance, who chairs the committee driving the redevelopment of Kyla Park Hall, said residents wanted answers to a number of questions.

He told council residents had posed specific questions about termites and missing tables and crockery, which remained unanswered.

This was at council’s policy and strategy meeting, where general manager Paul Anderson said: “those questions have been answered verbally at a number of meetings”.

But association president Michael Johnson wrote to the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner this week and disputed this.....

read rest of article at this link....

28th October - Letter written by Council addressing THPA questions

Dec 2nd - THPA response to Councils letter