Fees waived on council facilities

THE Surf Coast Shire council has waived fees for users of their facilities to help groups and community clubs deal with the financial pressures caused by COVID-19.

The use of public halls, recreation centres, reserves and community centres has dropped significantly during the pandemic, affecting the council’s ability to draw funds from the hiring of these facilities.

However, with many groups using council facilities facing their own hardships, the council decided to allow use of the facilities free of charge.

Bob Pettitt Pavilion is one of the venues to have its user fees waived.

Jan Juc Cricket Club secretary Phillip Smith said it was a simple gesture that would relieve some of the club’s financial pressure.

“It was a just a matter of me filling out a form online and they refunded our food services fee.

“It’s only a minor fee, but everything counts.”

He said initiatives including waiving fees helped the club support its members, with Jan Juc presently aiming to reduce the price of junior membership.

The motion moved by council to waive fees at the recent council meeting also initially included a reduction in fees for some businesses presently using council facilities.

However, Cr Brian McKiterick successfully moved an amended motion that deleted the clauses pertaining to businesses.

Cr McKiterick said he wanted the focus to remain on the community groups.

“I think it’s difference between a community group and a commercial group that’s making a profit or making a business out of leasing our facilities.

“It goes outside the community support that this document undertakes.”

Cr Heather Wellington seconded the motion. She said while she was sympathetic to the plight of commercial operators, there were better and more appropriate ways for the council to support them.

“This (the original motion) is suggesting just a pro-rata reduction. I would support any of these businesses coming to council as their landlord and saying ‘Look, here’s what’s happening to us, and we can’t afford to pay our lease and we need to negotiate.’ I think that would be quite reasonable.”

The fees for the council facilities will be waived until June 30, 2021. The council will allocate $30,000 from its COVID-19 Support Allocation to offset the waiving of fees.