Dear Beagle Editor,
This is the email I sent to Clrs Innes, Nathan and Tait in response to “Community urged to Write to Council before they vote on Tues to lease, then sell Community Centre” [Beagle Online 22nd November].
I am writing to add my voice to the Eurobodalla U3A President's and ask you to stand by the community and support the motion Councillor Mayne has on the agenda at the Ordinary Council meeting tomorrow to reclassify the community owned Batemans Bay Community Centre from B4-Mixed operational to Community.
Community concerns about the potential future sale of the Batemans Bay Community Centre have been ongoing and clearly expressed to you over the last three years. As you know one hundred and twenty diverse community groups use the community centre. If you have been listening as you promised during your 2016 election campaign, you would know that the Batemans Bay Community Centre is a valued community asset that caters very well for the groups who use it, particularly community members who have a disability.
A petition with over 1,000 signatures was tabled in Council supported by soundly argued public presentations. Well attended public meetings have been held with the community joining with representatives of U3A, Perfex and Meals on Wheels, to hear them advocate on behalf of the groups they represent and share their now, well-founded concerns about the future of the Batemans Bay Community Centre.
After the events of the last twelve months with the black summer bushfires and Covid-19, it would be a good opportunity to help unite the Batemans Bay and wider Eurobodalla. Please keep your 2016 election campaign promises to stand by the community, to be reliable, trustworthy, to be a friend not an enemy and support Councillor Mayne's motion.
Regards,
Maureen Searson
Batemans Bay
