Increased rents put sports clubs under the gun

West Australian, Page: 13. Monday, 28 April 2008

Some WA sporting clubs and recreational groups face a financial blow and the prospect of declining memberships as a result of a State Government move to increase rent on their clubhouses by up to 1000 per cent.
The Department of Environment and Conservation has introduced new rental charges to all clubs and associations that are based on public land this year. The fees will begin to take effect as each lease comes up for renewal.
Jarrahdale Sporting Shooters Club says it has no choice but to lift its fees to cope with a rent increase from $150 a year to $1500 but fears this will turn away some members.
Club president Ross Allanson warned other community groups about the prospect of significant cost rises in coming months.
"We go to great lengths to try to cater for people with disabilities in our club and when you ’re trying to provide a sporting service to the community and the Government increases the rent by that much, it ’s pretty horrifying," he said.
"Sporting groups need to be aware of these rent increases as it will affect their ability to operate and provide the recreational activities they have in the past." Mr Allanson said it was ironic that the Government continued to encourage participation in recreational activities when it slugged the groups providing that service with massive rent increases.
He said the club, which has 200 members and had operated in Jarrahdale for the past decade, spent about $350,000 to construct the appropriate infrastructure considering it did not have access to running water or electricity Serpentine-Jarrahdale Liberal MLA Tony Simpson raised a grievance motion against Environment Minister David Templeman in State Parliament last week.
Mr Simpson, who has been lobbying the Government on behalf of affected groups, said he had urged the Minister to consider introducing the rent increases incrementally.
A DEC spokesman said 12 community groups throughout the State would be affected by the changes this year. He said the department had historically charged nominal annual rental fees of $150, which would increase to between $500 and $1500.
"The rentals were considered to have fallen below what is appropriate for the exclusive use of public land for a dedicated use," the spokesman said.
"The last significant review of lease rentals for clubs and associations occurred some 10 years ago.
"In some cases the percentage increase may seem significant, but when you consider how low the starting base is and how high the market rate would be this is not high rent." WA Local Government Association president Bill Mitchell said community groups using council land were considered as charitable organisations and not charged any fees.