Mulwala Water Ski Club’s annual lease will more than triple from next year after Federation councillors granted the club a 30-year term, to provide investment security, while insisting on the independent market rental of $95,000 a year.
A public exhibition period followed council’s resolution in December, which proposed a phased-in rental increase over five years.
Of the seven submissions received, four supported the phased-in approach and three strongly objected.
They argued the council should not subsidise a profitable, commercial entity at the expense of ratepayers, particularly given the current financial constraints and impacts of the Special Rate Variation (SRV).
While the club’s financial contribution to the Mulwala community was undisputed, objectors said it was an "affront" to ask general ratepayers to subsidise a business that generated more than $2 million in profit in 2025.
The lease for the Crown land parcel, which houses the Holiday Park, expired in June last year and an independent valuation determined the current market rent to be $95,000 plus GST, a significant increase from the $30,000 being paid.
The lease will be subject to annual CPI adjustments and reviewed every 10 years.
As the proposed lease term is 30 years, final execution is subject to Ministerial approval under the Crown Land Management Act 2016.
