THE Margaret River Regional Environment Centre was told to stand more on its own feet last week, when the Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council agreed to let them have the Apex Shed on Clarke Road to replace the Centre.
The Centre, formerly the old Infant Health Centre, is to be the site for new toilets in Memorial Park.
The MRREC residents have occupied the centre at a peppercorn rent for about eight years, and asked the council if they could stay put.
Centre co-ordinator Blair Darvill made a presentation to this effect, suggesting that some of their members do maintenance on the building and that composting toilets be added to the park.
However, Cr Ray Colyer showed concern about the group’s financial record, asking if they had paid their electricity and water bills.
Cr Jenny McGregor disputed the shire staff recommendation to give the group $6000 towards renting alternative premises, saying it would be unfair to other community groups.
“(The MRREC) haven’t paid anything to the shire for the service they’ve provided,” Cr McGregor said.
“We don’t hand out accommodation for other community groups, that’s not our role.
“Six thousand dollars won’t buy you very much rental space in Margaret River, considering it’s for one year.
“They should be paying their way.”
If there were carpenters among the members, she added, they should have already carried out some maintenance on the building.
Cr Ray Colyer moved that the funds for rental be offered instead for relocation to such a site as the Apex Shed.
The shed, formerly a railway loading shed, has been used by the Margaret River Lions Club.
Cr Colyer said he was was annoyed that the MRREC “talk about sustainability, but financial sustainability hasn’t been their cup of tea”.
“If you want to be able to be relevant you must go out and self-fund your group,” he said.
“It’s up to you to go out there and obtain funds from your agencies so you are financially stable.”
He said the group could use funds to put in their own composting toilets and promote their own Zero Waste policy.
Cr Rosemary Taylor agreed $6000 would not be adequate for rent, and preferred the idea of offering the shed as an alternative site, with room for displays.
Cr Colyer also said other groups managed well with second-hand buildings.
“I just hope the MRREC will do this as well and turn an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.”
Cr Lyn Serventy praised the centre for its campaign against the Yarragadee extraction proposal.
“As Kermit the frog said it’s not easy being green, you cop quite a bit of flak (when) what you’re trying to do is shift the goalposts,” she said.
The council carried the alternative motion 7-0 to endorse the new toilet plans, offer to pay relocation costs of up to $6000 for alternative premises for the centre, provide 60 days’ notice to the Margaret River Environment Centre to vacate the current premises, endorse a concept plan for car parking at the rear of the proposed toilets, and authorise the CEO to investigate, with the Centre, into relocating to the Apex Shed.
After the meeting, Mr Darvill said it was a “pretty good” result, and they could use the opportunity to “practice what we preach”, creating a low budget centre with rainwater tanks and composting toilets.
“I think the original recommendation was a good one, we could have office rental for a year, we worked out we could do it for $8200,” he said.
However, he said the group appreciated what the shire had done for them.He said it would take some work to get the Apex Shed into shape, and hoped it would be a permanent set-up.
“It’s given us a lot of scope,” he said.
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