SHOALHAVEN City Council will spend more than $1.5 million to purchase four Bomaderry homes which will eventually be part of the Bomaderry/Nowra Regional Sports and Community Precinct.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Although council won’t confirm the actual price it is paying for the properties due to commercial in confidence based on market value and compensation the Register understands it will be closer to $1.7 million.
Director of Corporate and Community Craig Milburn said council was in the process of purchasing the four properties which will have to eventually make way for a $60 million upgrade of Artie Smith Oval and Bomaderry Sporting Complex.
The plan includes a new synthetic athletics track, a leisure centre incorporating a 25 metre heated indoor pool, Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre and a community pavilion to provide medical, physiotherapy, health and educational facilities.
“Council is in the process of acquiring the four properties,” Mr Milburn said “and they have been acquired by mutual agreement.
“Once we spoke with the four property owners and presented the plans they were happy to work with us to get a solution.
“It’s been a positive process. One clear statement from one of the residents, which was read out at council, was how they were happy with the staff dealing with negotiations.
“And they were positive about the process of coming to a mutual agreement on purchase prices.”
Mr Milburn said staff were continuing to work on a draft business plan for the sporting complex which was being finalised before being presented to council.
TIMELINE
May 2016:
June 2016:
July 2016:
“As for funding, the local politicians are aware of the project and we will be looking to them for funding,” he said.
“Council is committed to the indoor stadium [work on which is due to start on in June] and the croquet complex will be relocated in coming years.”
Bomaderry couple Rod and Kath Evans have been the face of the residents’ fight to remain in their homes.
They say the last 12 months has been extremely stressful but they had agreed to sell their home.
“We were first told we were losing our house, plain and simple,” Mr Evans said.
“We weren’t keen on that at all.”
The Evanses have fought an at times very public campaign to stay in their Cambewarra Road home.
During the last council elections they erected signs declaring if anyone should go it should be then Mayor Joanna Gash.
Cr Gash did come out in support of the couple saying she believed council should not compulsorily acquire the properties and the proposed complex could be reworked if the residents wanted to stay.
After being approached by council again a couple of months ago they have decided to accept an offer on their property.
“It’s happening, we’re moving,” he said.
“We are gutted but are determined to move on with our lives.
“It’s sad but also a new adventure. A new beginning.
“We have lived here 12 years and have some great memories but we will also make new memories in our new home.
“We have to look at it positively. If not it would get you down.
“It isn’t nice to lose your home. And we will be sad to leave.
“We are happy to move on and we were glad council came to the party and passed the motion at the recent council meeting.”
He praised council and its staff for the way the purchase has been managed.
“They have treated us like human beings, not just a number,” he said.
“That made the process a lot nicer.
“Trevor Cronk from council made the whole process a lot easier for all of us.”
The Evanses will remain at the property for around a year.
Council has given them three months rent free and they will pay for the remainder of the time they remain.
They have bought a house in Nowra and are looking to do that up before they move.
“It’s a slightly smaller block, but a larger house and it has a big shed which I can work in,” he said.
Council said in the first instance, residents in three of the owner occupied properties will continue to stay on as tenants until alternative houses are found and they move.
The fourth house was an investment property.
Council is looking at opening discussions with Southern Cross Housing to see if it will manage the houses.
A report on that proposal will be presented to council.