Port Fairy Yacht Club 21-year lease in community's hands as council seeks feedback

Moyne Shire Council proposed a lease last year for the Griffiths Street site but then offered a licence agreement after the club raised concerns about the $4150 annual cost.

The club then campaigned against the licence proposal, arguing it would cost them security and venue hire income, forcing the council to now advertise the original lease and seek community feedback.

Yacht Commodore Darryl Cairns said the club now agreed it would pay the annual cost, although he believed it was less than other nearby yacht clubs such as Portland.

"We bit the bullet and it was going to be that or nothing. We are not happy with it, but we will deal with it," Mr Cairns said.

The lease expired in 2015 but Mr Cairns feared it could be a further "12-to-18 months" before a new lease was signed if successful.

The council had previously said a licence agreement would make the site available for council meetings, with the Port Fairy Community Centre expected to become unavailable in the future.

Mr Cairns said the club would be open to allowing the council to use the site for meetings.

"That is up for negotiation. They held their meetings there for 10 or 12 years and they paid us to have their meetings there," he said.

The building is currently also used for yoga, taekwondo, pilates and Mr Cairns said the club was now also in discussions with "a reasonably large group" also wanting to use the site once a week.

He said the yacht club's appeal to receive a lease had strong support from the community and he felt confident the lease would proceed.

People can provide feedback on the proposed lease agreement before February 5 on the Moyne Shire website and submissions will be considered in May.

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