Volunteer Rescue Squad and Poultry Club forced out by Wyong Race Club expansion
THE country’s oldest poultry club and the Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Association have been given their marching orders to make way for a $6 million redevelopment of Wyong Race Club.
Central Coast
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THE country’s oldest poultry club and the Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) have been given their marching orders to make way for a $6 million redevelopment of Wyong Race Club.
The two community-based organisations, which have occupied sites on the former Wyong Agricultural Grounds — now the Wyong Race Club — since 1906 and 1980 respectively, have had their leases terminated.
This is despite some question marks hanging over who actually owns the land.
Last week councillor Doug Vincent raised a motion calling on Central Coast Council to review land records and historical documents relating to Baker Park and the racecourse area to determine which parts were owned privately by the race club and what areas were public land.
The Central Coast VRA was formed in 1975 and in 1980 negotiated a 25-year lease with the Wyong and District Agricultural Association for a parcel of what was then deemed community land fronting Rose St.
With community donations the VRA built its current building to house vehicles, equipment and to provide training facilities.
Through its 40-plus year history other community organisations have used the facility including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Wyong Lions Club and men’s support groups.
In 1994 it was used as an emergency evacuation centre during massive bushfires and even housed the first NSW Police breathalyser on the Central Coast as well as being the temporary base for the Wyong Ambulance Station when asbestos was found in its building.
VRA captain Anthony Bliim said the squad approached Wyong Race Club in 2016 for approval to allow a training company to use the building to raise funds.
It was then discovered the VRA’s lease had expired in 2004.
He said a new short-term lease was negotiated but it expired at the end of this month and the VRA have been given a termination notice to vacate the building.
Mr Bliim said Wyong Race Club wanted to use the premises as a maintenance building despite it being built with community funds.
He said the VRA did not have the money to dismantle the building and erect it somewhere else.
Similarly the Central Coast Poultry Club has been given an eviction notice to leave the state’s largest permanent poultry pavilion, which has been at the site since 1906.
The club hosts the second largest poultry show in the country, second only to the Royal Easter Show.
Central Coast Poultry Club show secretary David Gaggin said the club had invested more than $300,000 on the site, and previously had a strong relationship with the race club who encouraged them to grow and develop.
“The Volunteer Rescue, like us, has had so much community support, all of which is now going to get bulldozed,” he said.
“We have been told they are not going to renew our lease. We have been offered an extension to hold our last show at Wyong in May. However we are worried because we haven’t received this in writing.
“After that, we may cease to exist.”
RACE CLUB CEO RESPONDS
Wyong Race Club CEO David Jewell said there was “no question” the title of the land belonged to the club and the leases were terminated to make way for a $6 million redevelopment.
”Technically the sheds do not belong to us, but they are built on our land,” Mr Jewell said.
“Our discussions with the VRA date back at least three years — and they have been aware that at some point they will need to move.
“We gave them formal notice earlier this year in June that their licence would not be extended past November,” he said.
“I’ve been in discussion with the VRA president on a number of occasions.
“So I am a little bit surprised that one of their members has gone to council and caused all this kerfuffle.”
Mr Jewell said discussions had also been held with the VRA about compensation for the buildings even though the club had no legal obligation to do so.
“The racing club has title over the racecourse and has had it since around 1960. There was an historical lease for the Central Coast Rescue Services building which expired in 2004 and that wasn’t renewed by them or the Racing Club at the time,” he said.
“To say that they have been given 30 days notice now is a little bit mischievous because we gave them formal notice back in June and that applies to the poultry club as well.
“I am not quite sure what more we were supposed to do.
“We have a large business here that we are trying to grow which could create employment opportunities here on the Central Coast and we have an opportunity to do that — my job is to protect the Race Club’s interests.”