Council owns and manages over 350 buildings. Council uses some of them directly, while others are leased to businesses, organisations and community groups.
Historically Council has not had a single consolidated policy to guide how leases and licences of Council properties are granted and managed. Decisions have largely been made based on established conventions, individual negotiations or past practice, which lacks the consistency and transparency of a formal policy framework.
Council officers identified the need for a standardised approach to ensure fairness to all tenants and better alignment with Council’s asset management goals. In response, officers have developed a draft Leases and Licences Policy to codify the principles and processes for managing the use and occupancy of Council-owned or managed land and facilities.
You can view the draft policy here Draft Leases and Licences Policy.
Feedback on the draft policy can be provided by completing the survey at the bottom of this page.
This draft policy complements Council’s Occupancy of Sport and Recreation Facilities Policy, which sets a transparent and consistent framework for users and tenants of Council’s sport and recreation facilities.
If adopted, the policy will bring structure and consistency to rental income by basing rents on market valuations, with discounts transparently applied according to tenant category and community benefit.
The proposed policy introduces defined discount categories where a qualifying community tenant could receive up to 100% rent discount (but still be subject to a modest minimum administrative rent) if they meet all the community benefit criteria, ensuring that Council support is targeted to those delivering community value.
- Category 1 (Commercial/Private): Full market rate assessed on the specific individual property.
- Category 2 (Large Not for Profit Community Groups and Organisations): Full market rate assessed on the specific individual property less applicable discounts.
- Category 3 (Small Not for Profit Community Groups and Organisations): $8.80 per sqm per year less applicable discount.
- Category 4 (Sporting Clubs and Recreation Group Licences): $8.80 per sqm per year less applicable discount.
- Category 5 (Warrnambool Stadium Resident Sports Associations): $43 per court per hour.
Under the proposal, tenants (excluding commercial and individual tenants) would receive a 20 per cent discount for each of the following that applies:
- The tenant’s main use is non-commercial and not primarily for making income
- The tenant’s work involves local volunteers from the Warrnambool community.
- The tenant doesn't charge fees or receive external funding.
- The tenant provides a community service that’s open and accessible to the Warrnambool community.
- The tenant provided, or contributed significantly to, major capital improvements of the site.
*It is important to note that this policy will only apply to new leases. Existing leases will not be affected.
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