Gwydir Shire Council Ordinary Meeting update

Soldiers Memorial Hall

David Jones, Chartered Professional Engineer, was recently tasked by Gwydir Shire Council to provide an assessment of the condition of the structure of the façade of the Soldiers Memorial Hall in Maitland Street Bingara. The aim of the assessment was to determine whether the façade and verandah could be retained if the buildings behind it are demolished to create a green space.

In essence, his findings were that the façade and verandah are in “good structural condition and well maintained. Foundation conditions in this part of Bingara are sound.”

It was resolved that the retention of the Soldiers Memorial Hall façade be considered as a viable option in planning the replacement Bingara Council Office.

Full details of this report in addition to letters received by council during the public submission phase of the extended Development Application can be found in the recorded Minutes of the 27 July Ordinary Meeting on the Gwydir Shire Council website at https://www.gwydir.nsw.gov. au/Council/Council-Meetings

Recovery Of Long Term Unpaid Gwydir Shire Council Rates

Mr Richard McLean from Recoupa made a succinct and clear presentation to those in attendance at the Ordinary Meeting regarding the process undertaken to recover a proportionately small number of rates not paid by property owners to council. The ratepayers in question are in arrears from between five and 24 years.

It was determined that the majority of the properties are owned by either deceased persons or others who cannot be located, despite vigorous attempts to track them down.

The occupied property process is a passionate process, with ratepayers located, visited and a mutual development of understanding of the situation occurring. This allows trust to be developed and opens up the exploration of options. Ideally a plan is formulated and negotiated. This report is then sent to council for review. Usually, with the assistance of external professional support, an agreement can be adopted and the arrears in payment recovered.

The plan is further dependent on individual’s circumstances such as who lives at the residence, health and domestic violence issues and whether extended family can be added to the property title.

If it becomes clear that the rates will not be able to be recovered, then the option to sell the property becomes the final action for council to recoup unpaid debts.

With the demolition of the former walls, nib walls will be required to support the structural integrity of the façade, verandah and front wall of the offices. They will then need rendering to make them structurally sound and waterproof.

Further, the roof structure will “require modification at the vertical plane of the rear verandah wall.” Gaps will need to supported as well.

The estimated cost for the retention of the façade and verandah is $65,000. It was noted that this excludes the demolition of the remainder of the beilding to their rear and the hall itself.

Richard highlighted that there are many services and support offered to the ratepayer prior to the property being sold, from assistance to the ratepayer to voluntarily sell the property, to engaging welfare services to help arrange new accommodation, and other professional support services as required.

As a conclusion to the presentation, Mayor John Coulton conceded that Gwydir Shire Council tends to avoid the selling of properties as a means to recoup unpaid debts. However, in fairness to ratepayers who pay their rates in a timely fashion, this issue needs to be resolved. It was conferred that Recoupa’s methodology for recovering unpaid rates, underpinned by 118 individual action points, allows for as fair and compassionate process as possible.