The La Salle Motel in Narooma has been purchased by local businessman Harvey Ball, whose plans range from reopening it as affordable housing or even luxury apartments.
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Mr Ball said that provided he gets actual support from the Eurobodalla Shire Council he would like convert it into low-cost permanent housing.
However, other possibilities include knocking down walls between some of the 45 rooms and turning them into upscale apartments. A fall-back position would be to reopen it as a motel, although that business model had already had its day.
His main motivation was to see something happening at the motel complex that had stood vacant for four years. Mr Ball in recent years built the Shearwater apartment complex on the Narooma Flat and said he grew up holidaying in Narooma and wants his son to live here.
“I have a vested interest in seeing this town thrive,” Mr Ball said. “It’s very negative to have all these vacant tombstones along the highway and what message does that send to potential visitors and future residents.”
The motel hit the news last year when the previous owners the De La Salle Brothers offered to State and Federal government authorities as a possible housing for Syrian refugees.
Mr Ball noted that Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Premier Mike Baird and local Uniting Church Reverend David Oliphant had “all clamored for community support for the motel to be given over to Syrian refugees”.
But he said that the limited and fragile socio-economic state of Narooma was unprepared for such an influx to be successful, particularly given existing high unemployment and other structural social issues.
“We should be cautious who we invite in to this country and how we screen them to ensure that the recent terrorist killings in Paris, Brussells and Pakistan are not repeated here by allowing in terrorists posing as refugees,” he said. “I urge those who want to help true refugees to put their own money where their own mouth is and welcome a few into their own homes and stop trying to foist their agendas on us as a whole.”
“In any event I am intent on helping my fellow Australians first and prefer to get our own house in order before venturing into those unknown waters,” he said.
He invited readers to contact him through the Narooma News if they wish to volunteer their time to help this “Fairer Australia” initiative.
Mr Ball has already had an informal meeting with mayor Lindsay Brown and clr Neil Burnside about options and possibilities for the motel complex.
“We welcome the investment and confidence shown by Mr Ball in the Eurobodalla and in particular Narooma,” clr Brown said. “Council is always willing to discuss options for investment and we look forward to further discussion with Mr Ball when he puts forward any proposals he may have.”
Clr Burnside also welcomed the sale of the vacant motel and said; “He's got some exciting ideas - nice to see someone with capital who's prepared to have a go”.
Mr Ball said what was needed was a positive attitude by all in the community and an open mind to possibilities.
He referred to what happened to the small community of Yackandandah that set up its own community development company to try new ideas and revitalize the town.
“We do have a depressed economy with a high cost of living and low incomes, so what is needed is real cooperation from local government and willingness by everyone to consider new ideas.”