Centre’s big mystery
AS THE ongoing saga of the proposed closure of the Garbutt area PCYC amenities creaks and groans on there has been a question unearthed.
You would think it would be easy to answer given we now live in a digital, online world.
Everything is supposedly recorded or transferred in a diligent manner on to the correct data base.
Well, that’s perhaps just what we all thought!
Just who owns the PCYC building in Garbutt?
I’m sure everyone knows the centre after being there and well used for more than 15 years.
At a meeting this week at the Garbutt Community Centre, the situation was updated to those attending from groups who use the facilities of the PCYC building.
It is crystal clear the Townsville City Council owns the land and rents the building to the PCYC for the princely sum of $ 1 peppercorn rent a year. Just who actually owns the building, however, seems to be a deeply guarded secret.
This became apparent as the Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart, sought to have an answer in time for the meeting.
But, alas, no clear answer was given by council who reportedly said they didn’t know or weren’t sure or wouldn’t say.
Mr Stewart has been a determined, active supporter of retaining the centre in its present form and range of activities but even he couldn’t get a straight answer, so it seems.
One would think even the peppercorn rent of $ 1 per annum would warrant not only a legal agreement but proof of ownership be established long before the PCYC was granted access to the property.
It is hoped that through the Townsville Bulletin some longtime resident of the Garbutt area may just be able to jog the council’s memory of where the hiding place is for the ownership records.
Is this merely the onset of the early stages of Alzheimer’s by the council or another example of not standing up for something that is worth fighting for and simply drop kicked into the “Too Hard Basket”? One may never know unless we keep asking.
Hearsay around the centre is that the Kokoda Pool is being closed for renovations and that Long Tan Pool will be closed for the school holidays. Gee folks, so much for asking the public and the users of the pool.
If true, there goes two more locations used by the public.
Perhaps the council can clarify this rumour which, when one looks at the reasoning behind it must also entertain the possibility the Tooth Fairy is alive and well and employed in the council’s planning/ maintenance department.
The only sane and sensible outcome is for Townsville City Council to take over the running of the PCYC centre once they have vacated. This should be done even if it means either seeking additional funding or a corporate body that retains advertising rights in exchange for financial assistance.
We will need more centres in the future as our population is ageing; to close one down being well used by seniors is ludicrous.