The Bower reopens but still faces long fight to keep doors open permanently

The reuse centre The Bower held a reopening party on the weekend but there is still a long road ahead if it wants to keep its doors open permanently.

Guido Verbist at The Bower’s reopening party on Sunday.

• Bower evicted
• Reverse Garbage also at risk

THE Bower held a reopening party on the weekend but there is still a long road ahead if it wants to keep its doors open permanently.

The reuse centre enjoyed one of its best trading days on Sunday when it regained access to its home of 20 years following its controversial eviction by the Addison Road Community Centre Organisation (ARCCO) on November 19.

But it’s not time to pop the champagne yet after ARCCO said it “was informed by the NSW Government that ARCCO is in breach of its head lease” due to illegal structures at The Bower.

The NSW Department of Industry, which manages the Crown Land site, requested ARCCO address noncompliances outlined in an order from Inner West Council.

Lixa Brandt, Joucelen Gabriel and Amy Crouchert at reopening party. AAP Image/Monique Harmer

An ARCCO spokeswoman said the head lease “spells out what would constitute a breach” after the Courier confirmed the department had not issued a breach of lease.

“The recent communication (from the department) highlighted development without consent and premises to be kept clean and tidy in relation to The Bower — the same issues we have been asking The Bower to address for 2½ years,” she said.

“The advice reinforced that ARCCO as the holder of the head lease is the body responsible for the care and management of the site.”

ARCCO’s CEO Rosanna Barbero said The Bower’s repeated alleged breaches was putting the entire centre at risk.

“ARCCO remains committed to ensuring the centre remains in public hands and that the essential services provided by the many vital organisations on site, are supported going into the future,” Ms Barbero said.

Mr Verbist with Naomi Brennan and Kirsten Junor from Reverse Garbage, which is at risk of leaving the centre as a result of ongoing unresolved issues with management.

The matter is listed for a hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on December 14 but Bower general manager Guido Verbist hopes an out-of-court agreement can be reached before then.

Mr Verbist dismissed Ms Barbero’s claims the whole centre is in jeopardy as “scaremongering” and said the department had emphasised it was hopeful an “amicable” resolution could be reached.

“I think what is at risk is (Ms Barbero’s) mandate to continue operating the centre, not the centre itself,” he said.

He has requested the Department to investigate whether ARCCO has a conflict of interest and whether it is trying to push The Bower out to make way for its own programs.

There has been overwhelming support from the community for The Bower to remain open. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Verbist was hopeful “common sense will prevail” in relation to the illegal structures, which he believed could be retrospectively approved and rectified through remedial works approved by a structural engineer.

He thanked the community for all the support and encouraged shoppers to support them over Christmas.

“The most important thing is we can operate again and save the organisation from bankruptcy, but we aren’t out of the woods yet,” he said.

IN OTHER NEWS

A spokesman for the Department of Industry said it had scheduled a meeting with ARCCO and The Bower “to discuss the issues around the lease”.

Bower’s eviction on November 19 sparked a huge community backlash with more than 16,000 people signing a petition to save The Bower and almost $15,000 raised through crowd-funding to fund its legal fight.

The other anchor tenant of the centre, Reverse Garbage, also warned it could have to leave the centre if long running issues over maintenance and rent hikes are not worked out.