For several years Deepwater man Hendrik de Jong has publicly raised
concerns about the tenancy of 2CBD Deepwater
 FM Inc at the Deepwater railway station, claiming it is compromising the historic site.
 Owned by the State Government, the railway station building was leased by the former Severn Shire Council.

Operators of the radio station claim use of the building was donated
 by the former council, and are seeking clarification that the spirit of this arrangement
 has continued following amalgamation of the Severn Shire and Glen Innes Municipal councils.
Hendrik's response.
 I am on the Deepwater Railway Committee. No letter has ever been presented
to show that the Severn shire Council donated the rooms to Deepwater FM 91.1.

If Mark Trethewey's comment is true. they had to simply supply the letter to show the council donated the rooms.

FM 91.1 and Glen Innes 105.9 earn money through sponsors.
Deepwater Railway Committee earned money through renting the rooms.

However in statements to the Examiner and on a website (http://www.deepwaterrailway.com/)
Mr de Jong claims the group is illegally occupying three rooms at the site,
having breached a 1997 lease agreement with the Deepwater Historical Railway Station Management Committee,
of which he is a member. Rental income from other users including craft groups and TAFE had been lost
 to the railway station management committee because users had been squeezed out by the radio station, he states.

"As a section 355 committee (of council) we are to manage the site and need funds to do so,"
said Mr de Jong. "Without this income we are snookered."
Hendrik's response.
The  Fm has the rooms and wants to not to help maintain the site. The FM walk into their rooms and then leave.
The Deepwater Committee has the job of maintain the site. Without income maintenance cannot happen.
It is difficult to fathom the mind set where a group (FM) of people want people (public) to give them money,
then they (FM)  do their best to not pay out.
to pay rent is to give income to a group (Deepwater Railway Committee)
supported by the Deepwater town and Deepwater farmers.
 

 In addition to his claims of unpaid rent, Mr de Jong has cited concern about the general condition
of the railway station grounds, and expressed opposition to the position of a
safety fence around a 21 metre communications tower.
Hendrik's response.
 The problem is articulated on www.deepwaterrailway.com

"The cage (fence) was erected in the middle of the garden by the radio station committee even though
 (Severn Shire) council and the State Railway Authority agreed it should be
positioned outside of the garden," Mr de Jong said.

However a sign on the fence indicates it was built not by the radio station but the Federal government
 in 2004 under the Commonwealth Government's Television Blackspots Program,
and was approved by the then Severn Shire Council.
Hendrik's response.
 The problem is articulated on www.deepwaterrailway.com

An inspection of the site by the Examiner on Tuesday revealed that rooms used by the radio station appeared
better kept than those occupied by the railway management committee.
However, a disused radio tower, a smaller antennae and other broadcasting equipment
were lying outside on the ground.
Hendrik's response.
The problem is articulated on www.deepwaterrailway.com. If it was not for my site and the
 Glen Innes Examiner letter the rubbish would have stayed where it was forever

Responding to the claims, members of the radio station say their rent-free occupancy is under an
agreement made with the former Severn Shire Council. They have also questioned
 whether the railway station management committee,
as a section 355 committee of council, is able to claim rent for the building.
Hendrik's response.
A nonsense statement, because since 1987 the Committee has been receiving rent from
different groups and Non Profit groups.
It is simply that the FM group did not want to pay.

Deepwater FM Inc representative Mark Trethewey said he understood
that the current Glen Innes Severn Council
still leased the building from the SRA, and that the SRA was responsible for the maintenance
of the building through an associated entity called ARTC.
"The building is owned by the SRA and they have said they are willing to maintain it," Mr Trethewey said.
He said that the SRA had recently spent $100 000 on maintenance works including
 repainting the buildings interior and repairing the roof.
He also claimed ARTC assets manager Paul Purcell expressed support
 for the radio station during a visit in 2004, when construction of the Commonwealth
communications tower was allegedly
delayed due to protest action
 by members of the of Deepwater Historic Railway Station Management Committee.
In fact, Mr Purcell commented on the positive role the community radio station was playing in keeping
 the site safe from vandals by often having somebody on there, Mr Trethewey claimed.
Hendrik's response.
The structure is simple.
SRA own the site...Council pays a nominal rent to SRA..
.Council has a 355 Group who managers the site that includes the building and garden
This structure worked well until the Deepwater FM Committee 91.1 came on to the site. 
They asked the Deepwater Railway Committee for the rooms
and they sent letters which you can see on www.deepwaterrailway.com.
They were given the rooms in good faith and the Deepwater Railway Committee expected to get rent as they agreed.
In response the FM refused to pay rent and try twice to remove the Deepwater Railway Committee.
 

Glen Innes Severn Council General Manager Hein Basson is currently investigating the matter
and will be meeting with members of the community radio station tomorrow to clarify its position.
Hendrik's response.
My hope is that the Council General Manager will give justice to the Deepwater Railway Committee.


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