mt gravatt showgrounds trust annual report

MT GRAVATT SHOWGROUNDS TRUST

ANNUAL REPORT

1 MAY 2013 - 30 APRIL 2014

Mt Gravatt Showgrounds TrustAnnuat Report 13-t4 1

Contents

t Introduction

2 Preamble

Constitution of the Trust

4 Objectives of the Trust

5 Powers of the Trust 4

6 Organisational structure and staffing

7 Strategic plan and strategy

8 Building and grounds

9 Grant funding

10 Community activities

11 Finance

12 Chairperson's commentary

13 Attached (financial statement)

Mt Gravatt Showgrounds Trust Annual Report 13-14 2

Introduction

The members of the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds Trust are pleased topresent the 2013-2014 Annual Report.

Preamble

(a) The Mt Gravatt Showgrounds Trust was established in 1988 inaccordance with the requirements of the Mt Gravatt ShowgroundsAct 1988.

(b) The grounds had previously been held by the Brisbane City Councilwho between 1938 and 1974 applied various uses to the land.

(c) A decision of the Privy Council resulted in an Act of Parliamentthat secured the grounds for showground and recreational purposes.

(d) On 3 May 1988 that Act received Royal Assent.

3 Constitution of the Trust

(a) The Trust is constituted in accordance with the provisions of theMt Gravatt Showgrounds Act 1988 and is known as the Mt GravattShowgrounds Trust. The Trust operates as a body corporate havingperpetual succession of the land and is entitled to hold, let, sell anddeal with property.

(b) The Trust consists of seven (7) members. The latest Trust wasformed on the 10 December 2013.

The following list details current Trust members as at 30 April 2014:

(i) Brisbane City Councillor representing council ward in which theshowgrounds is situated (ex-officio member).

Councillor Krista Adams (Wishart Ward)

(ii) One (1) person nominated by the Brisbane City Council.

Mr Winston Fraser

(iii)

(iv)

Three (3) persons nominated by the Mt Gravatt AgriculturalHorticultural and Industrial Society.

Mr Kim Goss, Mr Guy McEntyre, Mr Gary Price

Two (2) persons nominated by the Minister as representativesof the community.

Mrs Amanda Scarpato


Mr Graeme Smith

The terms of the current Trust members were gazetted on 10 December2013. During the reporting period no members were disqualified frommembership of the Trust, nor were any removed from the Trust.

All Trust positions are honorary and the auditor's final statement confirmsthat no Trust member received any financial benefit from serving in theposition of trustee.

4 Objectives of the Trust

The statutory objectives of the Trust are:

(a) to implement a plan and strategy for the development and use of theshowgrounds having regard to community needs.

(b) to develop and manage the land for showground, park andrecreation purposes

(c) to apply money towards the development and management of theshowgrounds, from funds raised by renting out buildings andproperties.

5 Powers of the Trust

To enable the objectives of the Trust to be achieved the following powersmay be exercised:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

erect buildings, fencing and other structures

landscape or beautify the grounds

acquire adjacent land

let, lease or permit the useof the showgrounds

sell or dispose of assets.

6 Organisational structure and staffing

The Trust conducts meetings generally on a monthly basis. On someoccasions special Trust meetings are convened to handle special orunforeseen issues. There were eleven ordinary meetings heldthroughout the past year.

The current Trust office bearers are detailed below:

Chairperson Krista Adams

Mt Gravatt Showgrounds Trust Annual Reporÿ 13-14

Deputy ChairpersonTreasurer

Guy McEntyreGraeme Smith

Staff

The Trust employs a Showgrounds Manager, Miss Lauren O'Brien whowas employed in June 2012 and a full-time grounds man Mr Barry Furnerwho has been employed by the Trust since 16 March 1996. A casualgardener, Mr Michael Gardener, assists with ground maintenance forapproximately 24 hours per week, and a cleaner, Mrs SamanthaKitzinger, carries out daily cleaning duties for approximately 10 hours perweek.

Miss Lauren O'Brien also lives on the grounds and performs the role ofCaretaker. This latter role of coordinating out-of-hours events ensuresthat hirers of showgrounds facilities have an immediate contact point fortheir event.

Additional ground labor continues to be sourced from the Department ofCorrective Services (through Queensland Community Corrections).Community Corrections are generally able to supply a range of peoplewho are working off their community service obligations. These peopleperform manual tasks around the site under the groundsman'ssupervision.

The Showgrounds' manager is responsible for:

• supervising the work of the grounds manager, gardener, and facilitiescoordinator

• dealing with conventional enquiries• liaising with the public regarding bookings to use the Showgrounds'

facilities and updating website content• performing bookkeeping duties, preparing accounts for payment and

banking income received• referring all major matters to the CEO.

The Showgrounds' manager's wages and conditions are set inaccordance with the State Clerical Employees Award.

The groundsman is responsible for:

• mowing, trimming and general tidiness of the grounds andlandscaping

• cleaning and appearance of buildings• maintaining buildings, roadways and fixtures of the Showgrounds• maintaining Trust machinery and grounds' equipment• supervising periodicgroundstaff• referring uncertain matters to the Showgrounds' manager.


7

The groundsman wages and conditions are set in accordance with theState Greenkeeping Industry Award.

The caretaker/facilities coordinator is responsible for:

• ensuring that the Showgrounds are secure 'after hours'• cleaning and tidying the Memorial and Community Halls• iiaising with hirers of the Showgrounds facilities at time of use.

Strategic plan & strategy

During the 2013-2014 financial year, the Trust began developing astrategic plan and associated strategy for the development and use of theShowgrounds having regard to community needs. These planningdocuments are still at the development stage.

8 Buildings and grounds

The Ringmaster's Hut, Memorial Hall, Community Hall, Hamlyn-HarrisPavilion and Main Ring (oval) have been used throughout the year by awide variety of community groups and organisations. (Section 10 of thisreport lists those groups hiring showground facilities.)

Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall continues to be the most visible building on the siteand is regularly rented by community groups and for functions. Thisbuilding has excellent finishes and a kitchen of commercial standard tosupport functions held on the lower level. The upper level houses theTrust and Show Society offices and other offices are leased to tenantsincluding a migration agent, two solicitors and an accountant.

Community Hall

Following previous refurbishment, the Community Hall has twooperational levels. The upper level attracts a high level of patronage withits kitchen supporting a formal dining facility for functions and largemeetings. The lower level has now been transformed into a meetingvenue and corporate training facility. The lower level opens onto acovered paved area that allows groups to mingle during breaks andprovides an alternative area for break-out groups to work. A basicservery is provided to allow for the serving of catered food productsprepared off-site (for example, morning and afternoon teas).

Showers and toilets and changerooms are also located on the lowerlevel. These facilities are available to sporting groups using the oval fortraining and community sport.


Hamlyn-Harris Pavilion

The Hamtyn-Harris Pavilion is an industrial-style building which isregularly rented for trade activities, such as, the Bunning's field days andthe Aikido training sessions.

Main Ring

The Main Ring (oval) continues to be well-utilised for large communityevents and touch rugby league. TRL (touch rugby league) continued itsseason based on the operator's three year option to use the oval. Theynow use the oval four nights per week Monday to Thursday. The mainoval, including a fully operational watering system, still requires ongoingmaintenance and fertilization to ensure it is kept in top condition which isideal for sporting fixtures and the Mt Gravatt Show.

Circuses and traveling churches have operated from the platform area aswe are unable to allow them on the main ring due to the inability to waterand maintain the oval while they are on site.

Golf Driving Range

The major operating facility at the eastern end of the showgrounds site isthe golf driving range. The company had a change of directors early thisyear. The facility provides a significant injection of funds towards theTrust's annual operating expenses. Whilst the range continues to beextremely popular with golfers, some of its infrastructure has requiredcontinual maintenance and was rescreened earlier this year after severestorm damage. Over the years the lessee has had a range of repairs andimprovements that he continues to attend to as part of his obligationsunder the lease conditions.

Sunday Markets

The weekly 'Mr Gravatt Sunday Markets' also remains a significantincome stream for the Trust and is an increasingly popular event both forstallholders and the general public. The market lease payments arebased on a set percentage of the stall rents, the percentage increasingeach three years upon renewal of the primary lease. The markets havecontinued to grow significantly this year with Trust revenue from thissource increasing proportionately.

9 Grant funding

No funding has been applied for or received during the reporting period.

10 Community activities

The Showgrounds continues to be a popular venue for communityactivities, be they structured events using Showgrounds infrastructure orsimply having a walk around the oval with the family. The buildings andgrounds are maintained to a standard reflected by the income generated


from the use of the facilities. The rates for hiring facilities are keptaffordable to ensure accessibility for community and private groups.

The Mt Gravatt Show continues to be a significant event on the localcalendar each July. The Mt Gravatt Show Society advised the Trust thatthe 2013 show was very successful and reinforced the local community'sacceptance of the show's importance in this region.

Major cultura!/religious festivals continue to use the Showgrounds as aregular venue. This year the grounds hosted the All World GayatriPariwar Hindu Prayer and Rituals, attracting over 8000 people. Theseevents draw significant crowds from the local and wider community andare also attended by a wide range of Federal, State and Iocai governmentpoliticians.

Several major functions also occur annually including:

• The Way We Wear - vintage fashion show twice yearly• Rotary Club of Wishart Art Show• Rotary Club of Wishart Book Sales- twice yearly• Qtd Cake Decorators State Championships

Scores of private and community rentals have occurred throughout theyear, particularly for family celebrations. A wide range of communitysports, special interest and cultural groups use the grounds and facilitieson a regular and permanent basis. In addition to the major tenants, theSunday markets and the golf driving range, these groups include, but arenot limited to:

• Touch Rugby League• Ultimate Frisbee• Fame Theatre Group• Crocker Irish Dance• Individual Community Access• Sean Kirkpatrick Dog Training• Mt Gravatt Garden Club• Nissan Patrol 4WD Club• Clairvaux McKillop• Weight Watchers• CPA• Kindy Roo• Q Stamp• Qi Gong• Pastel Societyof Queensland• Brushstrokes & Beyond Art Group• Rotary Club of Wishart• ClairvauxMackillop College• Australian Christian College• Decorative Folk Art• Bonsai society° Mt GravattAnnual Show


1t Finance

Rental of the grounds and facilities continues to provide all income for theTrust. Continuing emphasis has also been placed on issues such asdepreciation of Trust assets.

As at the 30th April 2014, the Trust does have a contingent liability thatmay affect its financial performance. The claim made by a formeremployee through Fair Work Australia did not resolve at mediationthough no further demand has been received to date.

The Trust continues to operate in accordance with all relevant accountingstandards and financial legislation.

A copy of the independent audit report prepared by Ross Spranklin & Co.(QAO approved auditor)is attached to the financial statements.

12 Chairperson's commentary

The Trust has been pleased to maintain this unique suburban facility forthe satisfaction and enjoyment of the Mt Gravatt community. Theshowgrounds remains an icon in the Mt Gravatt region and the localcommunity appreciates the presence of this facility and their readyaccess to it,

The Trust is committed to keeping hiring and other user chargesreasonable in order to ensure that the facilities are within financial reachof as wide a cross-section of the public as possible. Notwithstanding thiscommitment, the Trust is still obligated to improve and expand on therange of facilities it can provide to the local southside community. Wehave reviewed the hiring/rental fees and conditions this year.

The Trust looks forward to continuing its relationship with the StateGovernment, Brisbane City Council and local community in pursuit ofthese objectives.

Krista AdamsTrust Chair


mt gravatt showgrounds trust annual report

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