As part of a council-wide shift, the Batlow Development League (BDL) is in the process of incorporating into a standalone, independent entity.
The Snowy Valleys Council started shedding Section 355 Committees last year, in accordance with state law. Many of the committees which existed under that section weren’t genuinely a good fit for the category, which is supposed to contain committees which run council assets.
For many of the 355 committees, their purposes didn’t align with the category rules, and the reporting requirements to qualify as 355 committees would have been too burdensome to maintain.
Ray Billing, Chairperson of the BDL, said the committee is happy to transition into an independent status. Currently, they’re working out details such as purchasing insurance for their major events (CiderFest and the Apple Blossom Festival) and working out how to have the SVC donate their assets to a new organisation.
“What we have to do is draw up a complete list of our assets and inventory and get council to gift it back to us,” Mr Billing explained.
“It includes the bank accounts, it includes all the equipment for the festival and anything else that we use for the festival, and there’ll be some items with regards to the Literary Institute that we got under a grant that we’re negotiating with council about.
“We’re in the process of putting all that together and then we’re also in the process of making inquiries for insurance, so that’s where we’re at at the moment.”
Mr Billing said the insurance questions were difficult to navigate, since the actual premium amounts can’t be determined until the group incorporates and makes an application.
“We’re fine with it,” he said, when asked if the committee felt positive about incorporating.
“All the members are fine with it. We don’t have a problem with that. It’ll give us more independence and a bit more flexibility too.”
The assets which the BDL will ask the council to donate to their new organisation include physical items for the festivals such as marquees, signs, table cloths, the ‘big apple’, a trailer, some sound equipment and other miscellaneous items.
The Tumbafest committee in Tumbarumba incorporated last year, moving from Section 355 status to independence. Their festival will be held this weekend.
