The Beagle Editor,
I applaud Mayor Mathew Hatcher seeking a solution for those Eurobodalla residents who struggle to get a roof over their head especially those who suffered from the bush fires. May I make a suggestion?
The Council owns the site of what was the Batemans Bay Bowling Club in the Batemans Bay Central Business District.
The Local Government Superannuation Fund owns Batemans Bay's large shopping centers and presumably its Funds have capital to invest.
If the Council, on behalf of the citizens of Eurobodalla, put in the land and the Local Government Superannuation Fund which must make a good return from the rent ultimately paid by Batemans Bay consumers, financed on a commercial basis a unit development on that land, it would be a "win win" for everyone.
Mayor Hatcher must appreciate that the recent real estate boom on the coast is going to flood his rate coffer nicely so he should not need to argue that the Council needs to sell the land rather than donate it to the needy.
He could be seen as a little "needy" as we in Batemans Bay have recently "profited" by well over one billion dollars of NSW Liberal Government funds for bridges, roadworks and a splendid arts and aquatic centre.
John Haslem
Batemans Bay Citizen
Further reading https://www.beagleweekly.com.au/post/old-bowling-club-site-still-no-interest-in-this-gateway-to-the-bay
