[Susan Scott]

I have sent off a request on the ESPL website requesting that they decide whether retirement villages are Public Benefit, as per the manual; or residential, as per Treasury advice. I’ve requested that they make the result of my enquiry known to all NSW councils.

[Susan Scott]

I have this morning had clarification from Treasury – Retirement Villages operated by a religious organisation or public benevolent institution are to be classified as Public Benefit Land, as per Release 2 of the Manual.

[Mchelle Morris]

Number 12 in the Release 2 has now been removed. Does this now mean that retirement villages are now residential?

[Susan Scott]

Oh dear, we will need to clarify with Treasury again – I wish they would make up their minds!

[Robert Hay]

Hi Mchelle

I believe Section 45 of the draft legislation deals with this now, the important part being the last section.

45 Requirements for classification as residential land
Land meets the requirements for classification as residential land if it is categorised
as residential by the council for ratings purposes under the Local Government Act
1993 or would be so categorised if it were not exempt from rating..

The change for retirement villages was also mentioned in the email sent by Treasury on 22/12/2016 which included version 3 of the manual.

I strongly recommend that everyone read the draft legislation (even though this may change, this is all we have at the moment) in conjunction with the manual when doing their classifications.

Robert

[Susan Scott]

Hi Robert, I am going to pose the question to Treasury as Issue 2 did state that Retirement Villages run by religious or PBI organisations were Public Benefit. (Didn’t state what the rest were.) As we were supposed to be all finished by 31 December, it’s a bit hard when they change the goal posts mid stride…

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