FAQs

Pre-school leases will now be managed under the Community Leasing Policy. 

After surveying and meeting with the occupant organisations, Council  is proposing new policy principles which are: 

• Legal occupation – Occupants of buildings and/or land the building occupies and enter into a valid agreement.

• Shared responsibilities and costs - Council and tenants will partner with a co-operative approach to the asset responsibilities and costs. Occupation of Council land will not impose an unreasonable burden on general revenue, nor will Council seek a profit from Community leases. 
• Minimum risk to Council and Tenant - Occupation of buildings on Council land must not expose Council or tenants to unnecessary risk
• Standard Lease Term - Standard lease terms of up to 5 years will be offered.  Longer term leases, generally no more than 10 years, may be consider in limited circumstances according to Schedule A of the Policy.
• Optimal Use of Buildings - Optimal use of buildings is to be applied wherever possible appropriate to the permitted land use, location and tenants use.  Exclusive use may be deemed appropriate in limited circumstances according to Schedule A of the Policy. 
• Suitability of Tenant  - Council may offer a current tenant the first right of refusal for a new lease agreement if they can show satisfactory need for exclusive occupation according to Schedule A. New tenants are chosen by a competitive process.

There are over 180 buildings on Council owned or managed land occupied by community, pre-schools and sporting groups.

Some examples of the community uses we support include sportsgrounds and clubhouses, both for land and water based sports; social activity buildings like bee keepers and woodworkers; community support groups and services; and pre-schools.

The current Community Leasing Policy was adopted in 1993 and the Pre-School Leasing Policy was adopted in 2010. 

You can download a copy of the policies from Council's website:

Community Leasing Policy

Pre-School Leasing Policy

The policies adopted a cost neutral approach for Council. Tenants use the building and pay a peppercorn or ground rent and in return have use of the building and responsibility for all costs associated with the building including outgoings, day to day repairs and maintenance, internal upgrades, structural upgrades and repairs. The average amount that tenants should be setting aside to meet these obligations can average $8,000-15,000 per annum.

We consulted with the tenant organisations throughout 2020-2021 about their needs and proposed changes. That feedback was reviewed by Council officers, Executive Team and Councillors and informs the new proposed Community Leasing Policy.  

You can provide feedback in writing or on the online survey until Monday 13 September 2021.

Council officers from Property Services have been consulting with your organisation, please refer to your management for more information.

Council officers from Property Services have been consulting with your organisation about this change, please refer to the organisation for more information.

Please try the occupant organisation in the first instance as Council has been consulting closely with them over 2020 and 2021. For more information, you can reach out to our Property Services team on 02 9710 0333.