Tuross Head Progress Association Committee Letters 2009/2010

1. Tuross Head Place Statement request

The Tuross Head Progress Association once again requests that Council undertake a Place Statement that encapsulates the unique qualities and values of this community prior to undertaking any further work on the Draft LEP that disregards same.

Response: Letter sent February 5th - No Response has yet been recieved

2. Memorandum of Understanding regarding any monies forthcoming from the possible sale of the Tuross Head Progress Hall Land at Jutland Ave, Tuross Head. - originally written December 3rd, 2009

resubmitted to Council by email Feb 5th, 2010

2. Memorandum of Understanding regarding any monies forthcoming from the possible sale of the Tuross Head Progress Hall Land at Jutland Ave, Tuross Head. - December 3rd, 2009

Dear Sirs,

The Tuross Head Progress Association and Tuross Community would appreciate Eurobodalla Shire Council clearly defining, in writing, exactly what Council proposes to do with any monies forthcoming from the possible sale of the Tuross Head Progress Hall Land at Jutland Ave, Tuross Head to ensure these funds are returned to the Tuross Head Community.

In a letter date 11th June, 2009 Mayor Thomson extend an invitation to meet further with the THPA Executive to discuss the surety required by the Tuross community to secure any monies forthcoming from the possible sale. There have been conflicting statements since that letter that have raised questions as to whether this particular process of specifically earmarking and corralling funds is possible.

It was clearly stated by Mayor Fergus Thomson at the public meeting on 4th June, 2009 that any monies gained from the sale of the Progress Hall land would be secured and used to the benefit of the Tuross Community in refurbishing the existing Kyla Oval Hall and improving the Tuross Head amenity.

Prior to any sale of the land it is the intention of the Tuross Head Progress Association to carry out a survey/poll of the Tuross Head residents and community and determine from that survey/poll the wishes of the community in regards to the future of the heritage listed Progress Hall.

In order to effectively survey the community it is essential that we know exactly what Council intends to do in regards to the Progress Hall land sale and exactly what it plans to do with the monies from that sale.

The Tuross Head Progress Association made representation at the Public Meeting held by Council to discuss affected land to be reclassified and submitted that if it were the will of the community to sell the land then the money should be preserved for the Tuross Community.

The reclassification of the land does not take effect until the Draft LEP is approved by the Minister.

The Tuross Head Progress Association requests that Council provides a response to this request of clarity of intent prior to the draft LEP being re-exhibited.

Yours faithfully

2. RESPONSE:
NO FORMAL RESPONSE TO THE LETTER HAS BEEN RECIEVED

3. The drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding to
Council clearly defining how THPA Cycleway fund monies are to be spent

NOTE: An eventual MOU was drafted in May 2010 and is as follows

Memorandum of Understanding regarding Cycleway funds held by THPA being made available to the Tuross Head Shared pathway project.

At a meeting of the Tuross Head Progress Association (THPA) on 3rd December, 2009 it was moved and passed that the Association seek a Memorandum of Understanding from Council that:

All monies raised and held by the Tuross Head Progress Association on behalf of the Tuross Head community will be spent openly and transparently on materials only with the option of making direct payment from Tuross Head Progress Association to the suppliers. THPA was concerned to ensure that hidden administration and on-costs did not burden the potential of our hard raised community funds.

We hope that you appreciate our position as this is the least expected of us by our generous community and by our own Association membership.

We asked in a previous letter if Council would advise THPA of possible on-costs it might have to pay in the course of this project, above and beyond paying for materials only. We appreciate that Council:

- has since identified specific monies in its Management Plan to cover any contingencies associated with the cycleway, such as additional design, earthworks and structures, supervision and traffic control, and

- also intends to direct the Federal grant of $75,000 from the Dept. of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations towards the Tuross cycleway project.

A letter to the Dept of E. E. & W. R., as requested by Council, has now been forwarded stating that THPA would be “donating” $100,000 to Council and contributing voluntary labour for the cycleway project.

We have provided this letter on the following basis:

-that the entire THPA contribution of $100,000 will be spent on materials

- that Council now provides information regarding the anticipated unit rate of cost of each type of material to be delivered to the site, (Council has indicated that it is in a position to secure better material unit rates than our organization could obtain if paying directly to suppliers), and

- that should construction proceed with materials purchased via Council we will forward progress payments from our cycleway fund upon receipt of each invoice from you showing cost of materials used for that section of the cycleway completed.

We are very pleased that construction is now imminent and look forward to receiving the information requested and your agreement to this Memorandum of Understanding.

Dear Sirs,

It is with regret that the Tuross Head Progress Association learnt of the letter to the Editor of our local community newsletter that states there will not be an exhibition in 2010. This discision and the cause of the discision come as a blow to the Tuross Community at large and to the Moruya Hospital Auxilliary as beneficiaries of funds raised.

The letter to the editor is as follows:

No Tuross Head Model Ship Expo in 2010
The Tuross Head Model Ship Group has decided not to hold a Model Ship & Hobbies Expo in 2010.
The main reason for this decision is that The Kyla Park Hall facilities are inadequate for our purpose. In particular there are insufficient tables and trestles to accommodate our displays.

Each year we rely on importing fold up tables from our homes and the Pines. This year we also sourced tables from the Moruya Hospital Auxiliary.

To date we have been lucky in that these tables were available. Should The Pines or the Hospital Auxiliary need them for other events then we would be left in an embarrassing dilemma.

Approaches have been made to Council, as far back as 5 years ago, to replace 6 tables that have been lost over the years since they were built in 1981.

An informal undertaking was given to supply these tables but to date none have been forthcoming.
The kitchen utilities are entirely inadequate for the catering of these public events. The Auxiliary ladies are forced to supply their own. This entails a lot of work as private kitchens need to be unpacked and repacked in order to prepare, cook and serve food to the event visitors.

This heavy work takes its toll on our aging bodies and discourages us from organising another event.
As a general observation, the Kyla Park hall is in much need of restoration work. There has been insufficient investment by Council in this important Community facility that was built and maintained by volunteers before Council took possession of it.

We are sad to have taken this decision as we realise that Tuross Merchants will lose much needed income and tourism to Tuross in September will be affected.
Ray Sillett

The Kyla Park Hall has a solid and proud history in this community. It was a hall built by the community for the community.

At the time of handover to Eurobodalla Shire Council the hall was in good condition and had a full inventory of quality fittings such as table, chairs, a full compliment of kitchen items and a full table service able to provide for 120 people.
The hall, in the opinion of the Tuross Head community has been allowed to run down under the management of Eurobodalla Shire Council to such a point as to see the withdrawal of a major annual function such as the Model Ship Builders Annual Expo

We look forward to your response to the above letter and to the concerns of the Tuross community at large in this matter.