TAMWORTH Tennis Club’s future remains in limbo after a state government report reviewing its peppercorn lease rate failed to eventuate on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club has agreed to amalgamate with Wests Entertainment Group, however the merger has hit a wall over the terms of the lease.
The tennis club currently pays a peppercorn lease of about $2000 a year to council for its land because it is a non-for-profit organisation.
The merger, however, has triggered a Crown Land review of the peppercorn rate, as Wests has been classified as a commercial venture.
Wests chief executive officer, Rod Laing, said without the peppercorn rate, the merger may not be viable for the club and Wests may have to pull the pin on the whole thing.
He said he was disappointed the organisation has been referred to as a commercial venture.
“I know for a fact we are register as a club,” Mr Laing said. “This is a merger between two clubs, which is much the same as what happened with Wests and the RSL, which became West Diggers.
“One wonders if a smaller club put their hand up to help the tennis club, would they be going through the same hassle? “I’m very disappointed the local member [Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson] has referred to us as a commercial enterprise.”
Tamworth Tennis Club committee president, Craig Orvad, said the club was frustrated by the time it had taken for a determination to be made.
Crown Lands indicated the result of the land evaluation report would be in on Friday, but it is still yet to be released.
“We're still waiting on that determination,” Mr Orvad said. “We are a wee bit frustrated. But the club still is positive and hoping for a mutually agreeable outcome. This club is for the members, that's the reason why the club is there. It's important to have somewhere for the community to play tennis and somewhere to socialise.”
Wests have already spent about $100,000 on the merger, including upgrading two tennis courts.