BUILDING PROJECT BULLETIN – Update – 30th August 2009 

It seems no time since my last report. Nonetheless things have been moving along from then until now.

It seems no time since my last report. Nonetheless things have been moving along from then until now.

Our builder Charles Grist, our club member David Norrish, who is a Certified Practicing Engineer, and I have pondered over the plans looking for ‘no additional cost’ improvement options. Both Charles and David suggested a number of changes and these were requested from the plan draftsman. David provided drawings of some highly detailed changes which we agreed would greatly improve the strength and longevity of the structure.

Some two weeks ago Charles submitted all this as a formal variation of the building plans for approval by the Shire building division. At the beginning of last week I received calls from the building division and the planning division to discuss the changes. I met with a building officer on Tuesday and his concerns about certain door opening were resolved satisfactorily. Later that day I met with the planning officer. His concern is a little more complicated and relates to the balcony being all the way across the face of the building, the approved planning consent shows a small balcony in front of the race control. Resolution of this matter may have to be by way of a variation to the planning consent. This could involve an agenda item being prepared for a Council meeting in the near future.

It will require a submission from us to the Shire seeking a planning consent variation and then a Shire planning division report and recommendation to be prepared for approval by the Councillors.

In the mean time Charles is proceeding at full pace with putting out materials lists and construction specifications for supply and manufacture quotation. I have to hand the duly approved and stamped modified plans, excluding the balcony modifications, so there isn’t any impediment to Charles proceeding right through to the completion of the project, less the balcony extension.

Wednesday of last week I met with the Shire’s Senior Property Officer to commence the process of DBYC acquiring a lease for the land in accordance with the approval and conditions in the planning consent. Taking into account our work in providing the documents she requires, including an appropriately prepared formal ‘request to lease’, her forthcoming absence on leave and the processes involving in consultation with some State Government departments, the forecast is that we could have a lease document ready for signing by this year’s end. This process can proceed without impinging on the building program.

Immediately after the meeting with the property officer I met with the Shire’s Principal Finance Officer. Some time ago I wrote by e-mail to the Shire’s CEO Andrew McNish about the procedure DBYC would need to make an application for a self supporting loan to take our project to full completion. He referred the matter to the PFO, thus the meeting. In further support of this initiative and as a result of our Treasurer Jim meeting THE State Treasurer, Troy Buswell at an unrelated occasion, the Project Group has had a business meeting with the Member for Vasse in his offices. Among the wide range of topics discussed, the matter of self supporting loans featured very positively in his advice and supportive comments. His direct advice is that we should immediately apply, via the Shire processes, to appropriate sources for loan funds and to continue our applications to appropriate sources for grant funds. His rationale is that the latter will help pay off the former and that this way of funding will guarantee the Club’s future, particularly in terms of our capability to maintain our assets over the coming years. There is evidence that his desire to see the Shire support the Club in such applications has already been expressed.

In short, the Shire’s PFO made it clear to me that we are eligible for such funding, that the proposed amount and term of the loan is appropriate and that, provided we meet the conditions outlined in his reply to my e-mail, he would be pleased to support an application by DBYC. When an application is received he will prepare a report and a supporting recommendation for the Council. If we move along with preparing the required details and the application itself the time frame for available funds could be by year’s end.

Finally, thank you to Brian Uren for sourcing the donation of the tek screw fixings for the entire building, and for sourcing the donation of the stainless steel wire and fittings for the full balcony. This is a saving of at least $2,000.

Noel Fogarty,       Project Group. August 2009.