The Bega Valley is in danger of losing its significant and unique historical records after Bega Valley Shire Council proposed a 750 per cent rent increase for the historic Pambula Courthouse which is maintained by and home to the Bega Valley Genealogy Society, a volunteer based organisation.
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The society's records include 460 family histories and the Kameruka and Ayrdale historical collections.
The courthouse dates back to the 1860s and is on Crown Land for which council is the trustee.
The society, has been going since 1987, has rented the Pambula Courthouse for the last 29 years, fundraising each year to pay the rent and insurance for the volunteers and its equipment.
Now the society's very existence is under threat after council first issued what was the expected annual rent notice for $559 and then replaced it with a notice for over $9000.
President of the the Bega Valley Genealogy Society Liz McIntyre said that five years previously the rent was calculated on a base rate that Crown Lands had used and has increased with CPI each year.
"This year the society was due to sign another five year lease/rent agreement with council. A rental invoice for July 2020 - June 2021 was received and paid July 8 for $559.63. However another council invoice for a revised rent was received on August 11. The revised rent was a substantial increase totalling $9945 plus GST ($10939)," Ms McIntyre said.
"I promptly emailed to say we couldn't afford the increase and council, after consideration, revised the proposed rent and decreased it to $4355 plus GST ($4768). This however still stands as an 750 per cent increase on the original rent," she said.
Ms McIntyre said they had spoken with the mayor Russell Fitzpatrick who told them they may have make a deputation to plead their case to council.
The Genealogy Society has put out a call to save both it and the Pambula Courthouse saying they would be forced to close down and abandon their significant archives and records.
"It is used by various school groups, is a venue for seminars and meetings and is an important part of Pambula and Bega Valley Communities. The library facility is often used by the general public to research their family histories, historical events and archives," Ms McIntyre said.
John Liston, who was on the original Save Our Courthouse Committee in 1992, has called on everyone to lobby council to re-think the "heavy rent penalty".
In a plea to the community on social media, asking people to raise the issue with council, Mr Liston said the rich heritage enjoyed today came on the back of amazing volunteers, voluntary organisations and charities.
"I am making an urgent appeal to BVSC for some compassion and common sense in the rents", Mr Liston said.
