By Ruza Zivkusic
CONFUSION surrounds the reasons why the tenant of a Brimbank City Council-owned building did not pay rent during the past four years under a permissive occupancy agreement.
Members of Australia Turkish Cypriot Cultural and Welfare Association Incorporated have been using the building at 76-78 Biggs St since late 2002 without cost.
The matter was raised during last week’s council meeting where the documents were sealed and signed, allowing the association to lease the property for the next four years at an annual rent of $1200.
Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association (SunRRA) members, who claim they recently discovered that the building was used by the association without cost, questioned why the council voted to seal a lease with the current tenants without any public discussion.
SunRAA president Darlene Reilly, who together with other members from her association submitted questions to council about the matter during a council meeting on 9 May, said Brimbank Council general manager corporate services Doris Cunningham had responded in a letter stating that “there is no rental payable by the welfare association under the permissive occupancy arrangement”.
In a letter to Star, Ms Reilly said SunRAA confirmed via a Consumer Affairs Victoria search that the public officer of the welfare association was Brimbank mayor Natalie Suleyman’s father Hakki Suleyman, who was also the electorate officer for Sport and Recreation Minister Justin Madden.
When Star contacted Mr Suleyman last Friday he agreed to meet on Sunday for an interview but cancelled two hours before the meeting, saying the committee did not want to comment.
Star also phoned Cr Suleyman last Friday and was asked to call back in five minutes. Star was unable to get through in the next three attempts.
Star was advised yesterday that Cr Suleyman was on leave, but it was unclear for how long.
Ms Reilly said SunRAA attempted to ask questions on record regarding the property during public question time on 9 May but the mayor “refused” to read out any questions during council meetings.
SunRAA also sent letters to all councillors on 19 May, advising them:
– That the association was not listed in the White Pages, the Yellow Pages, under welfare organisations or in the Brimbank Community Directory; and
– The association was rarely open for business.
“There are no opening hours posted anywhere on the property. SunRRA spoke to neighbours who said the building was rarely used and never open,” Ms Reilly said.
She said Brimbank CEO Marilyn Duncan had responded to SunRAA in letters, saying “the welfare association was a co-tenant at the same time and in conjunction with the St Albans Childcare Centre run by George Seitz’s wife”.
The North St Albans Childcare Centre was closed in 2001 after 25 years, it was reported in recent media reports.
Mr Seitz refused to comment when he was contacted by Star yesterday.
During last week’s council meeting, Cr Suleyman excused herself from chambers during the sealing vote for the lease, giving the chair to deputy mayor Troy Atanasovski.
Star was told yesterday that Cr Atanasovski was overseas on leave.
Councillor Miles Dymott, who opposed the report being signed during last week’s meeting, said more information was needed on what services were provided at the centre.
“It is a bit surprising that it has been provided rent-free for the last four years in comparison to other things. I don’t have an issue providing a rent-free or fee-free facilities to community groups at all. I just think that we should be consistent,” he said.
