SHACK owners along the Glenelg River are breathing a sigh of relief this week after the announcement of a decision by the State Government.
Worries have been eased after months of stress waiting to hear if their shacks would remain in tact.
Grant District Mayor Richard Sage and Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell have commended the State Government’s pledge to retain the historic Glenelg River shacks pending a review on ownership laws.
The government has announced a moratorium on any further demolition of shacks on Crown land and within national parks and will investigate current tenure arrangements for shack owners.
Currently, non-transferable leases are automatically terminated by the Environment Department on the death of the last person named on the lease.
Mr Sage said the moratorium would provide certainty to owners in the interim, but stressed the need for the State Government to determine future tenure agreements.
“Nothing has ever been set in stone with these lease agreements, so we need to determine what opportunities will be available for owners,” he said.
“We will work with the State Government and see what they are really looking for and make sure the interests of the shack owners are respected and their views are heard.”
There are about 300 shack leases on Crown land and 100 in South Australia’s National Parks.
Around 70 properties are along the Glenelg River in the Donovans, Dry Creek and Reed Bed areas.
In 1994, the Liberal Government introduced a policy to put shacks on public land into private ownership with the shacks remaining on parks or Crown land assessed as unsuitable for ongoing occupation.
The shacks were deemed unacceptable for freeholding for a number of reasons, including inadequate waste disposal and environmental concerns.
Mr Sage said he was confident the moratorium and review would motivate shack owners to invest in their structures and address the concerns.
“The ability to spend money on upgrades to shacks was non-existent because of the life tenure and the fact the shacks would be demolished,” he said.
“This will now give owners a chance to bring up their shacks to an adequate standard.”
However, Mr Sage said upgrade requirements needed to be carefully considered to ensure they were achievable for shack owners.
“We want to turn the shacks into safe and secure structures, but it is important to retain their historic factor,” he said.
“Whatever the State Government decides is an acceptable standard for a shack needs to be achievable and it needs to affordable.
“It’s no good giving owners tenure if they cannot reach the milestones ahead of them.”
Mr Bell said it was imperative the State Government determined future decisions on legislative change as part of the review.
“It is really good to get the moratorium, but we need to work out what happens with the legislation and whether the leases get transferred or not,” he said.
“I have been fighting for the Glenelg River shack issue for the last four years and I welcome the minister’s positive moves in that direction.”
Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said the review would include opportunities for shack lessees to retain a lease.
He added it was likely the review would investigate potential freeholding where possible.
