FISH CLEANING PONTOON OFFICIALLY OPENED
On Saturday 10th July, the Deputy Mayor, Michael Britten, officially opened the MBGLAC Fish Cleaning Pontoon, in Merimbula Lake. It was conducted in the Clubrooms and was attended by BVSC representatives, those who helped in the building of the pontoon, the local press and Club committee and members.
The opening was the result of over five years work, involving obtaining $30000 in Federal and State grants and then battling with the Bega Valley Shire Council. In fact, we took it to five formal Council meetings, before final acceptance.
The then Council General Manager had accepted the concept of a Partnership with the Club, whereby we would provide the Pontoon, funded with grant money, we would do all on-going maintenance and the Council would pay all overheads. However, the then General Manager, David Jesson, left the BVSC and the Bega Valley Shire Council and staff reneged on the arrangement and did not want anything to do with the pontoon. This is despite the fact that they have a clear responsibility to provide a fishing cleaning facility in the town.
However, the Club had the $30000 grants in our bank account, which we did not want to return to the respective governments. As such, we proceeded with the pontoon, under our own name. We have negotiated that BVSC will reimburse us for any maintenance, but we must pay overheads such as insurance and mooring fees. In due course and once the pontoon has proven itself as an integral part of the town infrastructure, we may yet convince BVSC to accept its responsibilities and pay all the overheads.
I would like to officially thank all the club members who contributed to this great result.
Tom Scott
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