SAILING CLUB OBJECTS TO OUTRAGEOUS NSW CROWN LANDS FEE

Port Hacking Open Sailing Club is under threat of closure due to massively increased fees from the NSW Crown Lands Department.                                                                                                    PHOSC is a community-based, full volunteer club with the club's primary income being the annual fees paid by club members. 

Founded in 1945, PHOSC has occupied a waterfront site in Yowie Bay, Port Hacking since 1957. The club sails every weekend and its main focus has always been to introduce people to the great sport of sailing via the clubs “Learn to Sail” classes that are held annually. The sailing club is run by a group of enthusiastic volunteers with a love for sailing and sharing their passion with the community. PHOSC was formed in 1945 in an effort to help rebuild the St George and Sutherland Shire community after the depravations of WW2 and the club is now celebrating its 80^th year of operating for the benefit & enjoyment of the community.

The majority of the sailing club is positioned on Council owned land; however, a small part of the sailing club's facility sits over the water, and the club requires a permissive occupancy licence controlled by the NSW Government Crown Lands Department. This has been an ongoing arrangement for decades (since 1957) with last year’s annual fee being $664 PA, however the sailing club's latest invoice from NSW Crown Lands was a 1,400% increase, bringing it to a staggering $9,908 per annum !

This is without justification or due diligence as to how that unprecedented increase would affect a small volunteer run sports club and the community it serves. PHOSC is a completely volunteer run amateur sports club without restaurants, poker machines or liquor licence, the club relies on annual financial subscriptions from members for its income. A lot of families in the community appreciate the fact that their children can enjoy sport at a small grass roots club, without the influence of gambling or alcohol sales being part of their sporting experience.  This fee increase will place PHOSC in an untenable financial position which will force the club to close its doors after operating successfully for the benefit of the St George & Sutherland Shire and other communities for the past 80 years.

The Crown Lands Department has also disregarded the fact that PHOSC does NOT  have exclusive use of the PO area in question. In fact, of the 377m2 of land covered by our Crown Lands Permissive Occupancy Licence, only 20% of the area is utilised by the club to store sailing dinghies, whilst the other 80% of the waterfront area is open to the public seven days a week, year-round with access controlled by Sutherland Shire Council.

Without the sailing club's existence there would be absolutely no waterfront access due to the steep topgrapy of the site, nor would any of the facilities exist such as the upper and lower concrete viewing decks, floating pontoon / ramp and toilet facilities that are all available for use by the general public and the sailing community. All of these facilities were originally built by the club and all maintenance and upkeep of the site is paid for by the sailing club, at NO COST to the NSW Government.

Unless the status quo is restored by NSW Crown Lands Revenue Department to around $664 annual PO fee, (which is in-line with most sailing clubs around Sydney Harbour), PHOSC will not be a financially viable sports club and will cease to operate. The loss of PHOSC will impact the many community groups that utilise the clubs’ facilities, such as Scouts Australia, Christian Youth camps (Youthworks – Royal National Park), PCYC, local community swimming groups, local school mothers’ groups and Marine Rescue Solander. 

NSW Crown Lands Department unyielding revenue demands upon a small volunteer-run, community-club is an unprecedented & unjustifiable money grab, that demonstrates total disregard for the people they serve and the benefits of volunteer-run community organisations, and is extremely out of touch with community expectations. 

Port Hacking Open Sailing Club has appealed the Crown Lands fee with submissions sent to The NSW Premier The Hon. Mr Chris Minns (MP) and The NSW Crown Lands Minister The Hon. Mr Steve Kamper (MP).

Assisting the club with our appeal to the Government is The Hon. Mr Mark Speakman (MP),  The Hon. Ms. Stephanie Cooke (MP),  The Hon. Lorraine Overall (MLC) and Australian Sailing Organisation.

PHOSC hopes to resolve this issue for the benefit of the community and all volunteer run organisations that in their own way help contribute to the overall fabric of modern society.

PHOSC Commodore responds to Crown Lands justification. Click on Link >>> NSW Crown Lands Justification

Also refer story at "The Leader" newspaper. Click on Link>>>  St George & Sutherland Shire Leader