Can We Create Our Community?

Another out-of-character Chronicle to do a last ditch pitch to purchase a parcel of land for posterity, thank you for your patience with the process. The regular format Chronicle with a variety of local topics, the DAs in Play and all the aspects you’ve grown to enjoy will return in March.

It’s been almost 3 months since The Chronicle last occupied your letterbox. If you remember the November edition it was full of excitement and anticipation about collaborative housing, trying to explain this different style of living and seeking interested people to attend information sessions. 

The workshop at the hall booked out in 4 hours with a waitlist, fortunately the COVID capacity of the hall was reviewed and those in waiting got to attend. The 30 who booked out the event never showed up, it was a hot day, however there were concerns that our community driven process was being thwarted. If a local community group wanting to undertake a community driven development is seen as such a threat, we must be doing something right. Onwards and Upwards!

There were three other meetings held and the upshot was that there is interest within the community, the site at 20 Laycock Street seemed a perfect option, but the concept is new and needs more discussion and education.

A $250,000 grant application was submitted to fund the collaborative housing process, the grant outcome won’t be known till March. So the only option open at the moment is to attempt to purchase the Carey Bay block and work through the process.

An ideal collaborative housing parcel of land at 20 Laycock Street is still up for sale. The agent has recently changed to Matrix Property Group, an agency that specialises in development site sales, the asking price has risen to $1.8million, reflecting the recent surge in the property market.

What we are asking for and why.

The CPPA is seeking pledges from our community (and beyond) for an investment for around 2 years to enable us to lodge an expression of interest (EOI) to enter into negotiations to purchase 20 Laycock St, Carey Bay. The EOI is due on Wednesday 17 February, 3pm.

If we can progress past the pledge stage a legal framework will be established to ensure everyone’s investment is secure. We expect each investor will become a shareholder or equivalent in some kind of holding structure which will purchase the land.

If the development we envisage goes ahead the income from sale of new properties will provide funds to repay investors. If it does not go ahead within 2 years, the intent would be to sell the land and distribute the proceeds back to investors. It is expected that in either case the return to investors would be similar to the original investment - any profit or loss would be expected to be small - but there is no guarantee.

The CPPA is a registered charity and our constitution recognises that buying land may be an appropriate way to pursue our objectives.

So why is there such a rush on now for a 17/2/21 deadline and why has there been such a delay in communicating with the community? A word from The CPPA President- Suzanne Pritchard.

“The reason for the hiatus is that my dear dad, Laurie, died on January 25th. I have been caring for him for the past 8.5 years, he had a raft of health issues including dementia. In early December, dear ol’ dad had two falls attributed to low blood pressure, the 2nd fall bruised his ribs, a prescribed painkiller caused a bowel blockage which led to hospitalisation over Christmas. Upon returning home dad’s mobility and mind were so compromised, work (paid and voluntary), had become impossible. On 25th January at 8am dear ol’ dad passed away quickly on our front veranda, in my arms, to ‘I can see clearly now the rain has gone’. A period of grief and transition has left very limited time to try and make the Bush Block project happen. I’ve been dealing with dad’s demise in various ways, grieving and grooving, drinking and deliberating.

Desperate times have called for disparate measures. If you visit the CPPA website or facebook page you’ll see the pleadings from a drunk and desperate President trying to make something happen ‘with the rainbow I’ve been praying for’ whilst coming to grips with grief."

The EOI on the 20 Laycock St closes on Wednesday 17 Feb at 3pm. We need pledges by COB Tuesday to collect and collate the pledges.