City of Greater Geraldton council saves Point Moore cottages from demolition

The City of Greater Geraldton council has voted to save four cottages from demolition in the hopes of providing accommodation to community members in desperate need of a home. The City recently gained possession of the five beach cottages at Point Moore, on Marines Lane, Gunners Lane, Sextant Lane and Monsoon Lane in the West End suburb through default of lease payments. CGG chief executive Ross McKim recommended in his report to the council the four asbestos cottages with non-compliant septic tanks at risk of failure on Coastal Hazard Risk management land be demolished, with the fifith on Monsoon Lane as the only brick structure to be re-let for 18 years in line with the expiry date of the majority of Point Moore cottage leases. At the council’s ordinary July meeting last night, Mayor Shane Van Styn put forward an amended motion for the four properties in danger of the wrecking ball to also have their leases opened for a further 18 years. He said because there was a shortage of affordable housing across Geraldton community members should at least be given the opportunity to purchase the cottages. “Let’s not just go around knocking over houses people might otherwise want to buy or actually need,” he said. “Some of these are in disrepair so it’s about you know, bringing them to the market and if (owners) aren’t found then having to accept the fact they’ll be removed. We can’t just let them sit there derelict and let them fall into want and abandon over time. “If people wish to acquire them, lease them, then it’s also a revenue stream to the City both in lease fees and also in a bit of capital movement. In my experience a lot of these sell rapidly.” The City will list the properties on the market for a maximum of six months “as is,” with the purchaser able to lease the land for 18 years after which time it will have to be returned vacant. If the properties are not sold they will be demolished, with the cost of the demolition to come out of existing levy fund. Any other cottages that fall into the city’s possession over the next three years will also be dealt with under this recommendation. Twelve properties in Point Moore, whose lessors did not elect to participate in the most recent lease extension to 2039 from the City, expire in 2025. Since July 1 last year, 15 properties in the area have sold from $55,000-$115,000, with a median price of $85,000. Councillors Natasha Colliver, Victor Tanti and Sally Elphick also spoke to the motion. “I did raise this at the agenda forum last week, asking the question why we would intentionally take away some low (priced) housing properties off the market potentially when we are in a housing crisis,” Cr Colliver said. “So I’m very pleased to support this motion, I do note the CEO’s response to that question last week around the complications with Point Moore...but I do just think at the moment the need for housing far outweighs the risk we are facing for coastal erosion and the complications around that.” “Asbestos is not an issue unless you start cutting it up,” Cr Tanti said, who lives in a Point Moore cottage not adjacent to any of the properties in question. Cr Jerry Clune spoke against the motion, saying the City was delaying dealing with an issue to fill in a gap that was the responsibility of the State Government. “I alike Point Moore to our little Wittenoom, it’s an issue that’s there and needs to be dealt with...I think this was an opportunity for us to make a start as a council,” he said. “We need to make a start in making the tough decisions with Point Moore. “Geraldton’s vacancy rates have increased slightly in recent months...well we’re really just getting the backstop from the State Government and pushing housing that really is their responsibility.” The motion was carried eight votes to two.