This week I was a signatory to call rare extraordinary meeting of Council to address a dispute between the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association, Dressage NSW and Equestrian NSW.
The HDAA have for many decades leased the showground from Council to manage and improve the site and run numerous events, the biggest being the Hawkesbury Show. Their current lease runs until 2034. Council legally acts as the “Crown Land Managers” but have traditionally respected the judgement of the HDAA to run matters, including (in this case) the sub-leasing/sub-licensing of facilities to other groups.
Dressage NSW’s most recent 10-yr license of the dressage arenas, comprising 8% of the showgrounds commenced in 2015 and expires on 30 June. Dressage NSW declared they did not wish to continue as the licensee but Equestrian NSW (a larger organisation) said they would. HDAA have thus far refused, insisting that the dressage arenas be demolished.
I have met with both sides at length, including visiting the dressage site at Clarendon. With the very greatest of respect for the HDAA, I believe they are wrong. Forceful personalities have resulted in an impasse. I implore both sides to come to an amicable agreement. The motion advanced by myself, Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett and Councillor Danielle Wheeler asks the HDAA to halt any demolition for 60 days until further negotiations can occur, and to clarify Council’s prerogatives as Crown Land Managers.
This motion passed unanimously. Councillors Sarah McMahon, Shane Djuric and Jill Reardon were absent for the vote. My remarks are here. The full debate is online.