Updated with ORRA member Brian Davies’ speech to the June 25 Council-under-administration meeting.
Land at 1A Jaques St will return to community ownership with Council buying it from Newcastle Uni for $1, if the administrator agrees on July 25.
In recent years, the world war two Nissen hut was disused; the uni wanted to sell the land and dismantle the hut.
The community was less than impressed because the land and the hut originally belonged to the community.
The hut was demolished recently when the uni found it could not be salvaged.
In the next Council-under-administration meeting, administrator Rik Hart will make a decision on whether or not to accept the staff recommendation to buy the land at Ourimbah.
“The transfer will occur at a nominal charge ($1) and the land will be classified as community land,” the council report states.
“The site will be included in the Council community land Plan of Management at its next review, with a recommendation for categorisation as general community use.”
The community will be consulted – along with the usual “external stakeholders” – to determine the preferred long-term use of the site.
“This will result in an amendment to the adopted Ourimbah Land Use Strategy and Masterplan 2022,” council said.
Also on the agenda is an administrator’s minute about the return of councillors – which is more than 12 months’ away.
But the administrator is talking about running a series of training sessions for potential councillors, beginning with an introductory session in October.
The July meeting will start at 6.30pm at Hely St council offices with the public forum back to its usual spot, being held half an hour before the meeting – if there are any residents who register to speak on an agenda item.
There was one speaker on the night and it was an ORRA representative.
Brian’s speech:
re: Item 3.4 Transfer of Land at 1A Jaques Street Ourimbah to Council Ownership
Mr Administrator, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am speaking on behalf of Ourimbah Region Residents Association known as ORRA. I’ve been known to speak at these forums opposing motions, but I’m pleased to say that tonight, I’m here to give ORRA’s wholehearted support to this motion. We have the backing of large numbers of residents who signed two petitions asking for such a result. It provides continuity in a long history of community involvement and public resources in the village centre and fulfils one of the aims of the Ourimbah Masterplan.
The Ourimbah School of Arts Hall (aka Nissen hut aka Hangar) at 1a Jaques St was an integral part of community life in Ourimbah in a tradition that dates back to the start of the 20th century. Since it was built in 1950, this hall hosted dances, movies, wedding receptions, farewells, sports presentations, school events, amateur theatricals, live music, a boys club encouraging fitness, and more.
But it was the 3rd iteration as two previous School of Arts Halls had burnt down, one in 1922 and one in 1949. On both occasions the generosity of spirit in the Ourimbah
community shone through with generous donations of land, cash and materials from a number well known families. The timber for the latest hall came from trees donated by locals that were milled free of charge at Brownlee’s Mill, now the proposed site of the new food innovation hub. The new halls were built by volunteer labor.
In this motion ORRA sees a continuation of that generosity of spirit. Our president stated “we recognise that UON has been extremely generous to make this offer to our community and we thank them for being so supportive.”
Mr Administrator, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am speaking on behalf of Ourimbah Region Residents Association known as ORRA. I’ve been known to speak at these forums opposing motions, but I’m pleased to say that tonight, I’m here to give ORRA’s wholehearted support to this motion. We have the backing of large numbers of residents who signed two petitions asking for such a result. It provides continuity in a long history of community involvement and public resources in the village centre and fulfils one of the aims of the Ourimbah Masterplan.
The Ourimbah School of Arts Hall (aka Nissen hut aka Hangar) at 1a Jaques St was an integral part of community life in Ourimbah in a tradition that dates back to the start of the 20th century. Since it was built in 1950, this hall hosted dances, movies, wedding receptions, farewells, sports presentations, school events, amateur theatricals, live music, a boys club encouraging fitness, and more.
But it was the 3rd iteration as two previous School of Arts Halls had burnt down, one in 1922 and one in 1949. On both occasions the generosity of spirit in the Ourimbah
community shone through with generous donations of land, cash and materials from a number well known families. The timber for the latest hall came from trees donated by locals that were milled free of charge at Brownlee’s Mill, now the proposed site of the new food innovation hub. The new halls were built by volunteer labor.
In this motion ORRA sees a continuation of that generosity of spirit. Our president stated “we recognise that UON has been extremely generous to make this offer to our community and we thank them for being so supportive.”
We’d also like to express our appreciation to our local MP, David Mehan, for his efforts in helping to achieve this outcome.
And, of course, we’d like to thank Council for putting forward this motion recommending to purchase this site on behalf of the Ourimbah Community. ORRA and the people of Ourimbah look forward to consulting with Council on how best to utilise this site in future.
Mr Administrator, I, and ORRA, respectfully ask you to please approve this motion.
And, of course, we’d like to thank Council for putting forward this motion recommending to purchase this site on behalf of the Ourimbah Community. ORRA and the people of Ourimbah look forward to consulting with Council on how best to utilise this site in future.
Mr Administrator, I, and ORRA, respectfully ask you to please approve this motion.
This story will be updated only if the administrator fails to adopts the motion.
