AT what point does a privately-owned building become a question of public assistance?
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This is the question councillors have had to grapple with for the past six years.
This is because a decision to go part way and lend Duntryleague Golf Club $110,000 has been questioned three times by the club’s management since 2011.
No one can question the expense of a heritage building.
The loan covered only fire upgrades to the guesthouse and heritage homeowners often make it plain the kind of burden heritage brings.
It is no less for a not-for-profit golf club, which struggled to get golfers onto the tee due to constant rain last winter and had to introduce an extra levy on its members.
Its president, John Cook, said it would be far easier for the club not to have a heritage building to maintain and not have to face raising the millions of dollars needed to keep it in top condition.
Yet the guesthouse’s value to Orange also cannot be questioned.
Mr Cook has pointed out the nation has little heritage in the way of buildings.
High school students have their formal photos taken there and images are used on tourism brochures.
Its historical value is also significant, owing to the fact that one of its stained glass windows was a gift from the Pope.
Yet other organisations with custodianship over heritage buildings are not asking for assistance.
The former town hall, which is now home to OCTEC, is one such example where extensive restorations have occurred at the cost of the owner.
Councillors would be wary of any precedent a grant to Duntryleague could set and cannot be expected to foot the bill.
But they have tried to help where possible – after all, the loan terms have been altered twice and public submissions will be called on a proposal to donate the cost of removing a tree from the grounds.
The key to the guesthouse’s fate will be the foundation.
Separating the club and the guesthouse has opened it to donations.
The foundation has invited community input and started open days with some early success.
But if the community truly values this facility, residents, not the council, will have to put their hands in their pockets.