Mount Isa City Council has agreed to offer trustee permits for a term of three years over the existing tenured horse paddocks on Council trust land near the Sewerage Plant.
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Council said the current trustee permit agreements for 61 horse paddocks at the 58-hectare site was due to expire between the end of August and the end of September with the expiry of the remainder dependent on the date of each permit.
Consideration on provisions for water to the paddocks was included in the trustee permit.
According to the motion passed by Council, watering times and availability of effluent water is at Council's discretion as is provision and method of supply while Council will also not be responsible for providing water for horses in the event of equipment failure.
Motion proposer Cr George Fortune said Council need to manage the leases for the betterment of the community with the rules of state and council.
"The rules are good, able to offer people who have horses to house them, and it is fair and aligns with council responsibilities." Cr Fortune said.
Seconder Cr Phil Barwick said the Mount Isa horse paddocks were a unique aspect of Mount Isa promoting liveability for those with horses close to town with water and fencing.
"It is a user pays basis and Council is monotoring to ensure ratepayers are not impacted by this significantly," Cr Barwick said.
Council currently provides 92 horse paddocks and one exercise yard situated over Council trust land accessed via Commercial Drive, Treatment Plant Road, Jessop Drive, and Sports Parade.
Council has implemented a waiting list system for the paddock with five people on the list with five available paddocks, which are currently in the process of being offered.
Council established the original paddocks in 1982 to accommodate horses. In previous years, the horse paddocks were tenured under a trustee lease, however Councils said the paddocks evolved into a real estate commodity and were very rarely returned to Council, creating a supply and demand scenario.
In 2018 Council resolved tenure would be offered by trustee permit, on expiry allowing for relinquished paddocks to return to Council and not be on sold.
Paddocks under 10,000 sq m cost $1690 a year to rent with paddocks over 10,000 costing $2715.
The council meeting also heard they told horse paddock lease holders on June 8 that a new trial arrangement would be implemented from June 14, splitting the paddocks into groups to provide a more even distribution of water pressure.
Each group will receive recycled water for a two-hour period, twice a day.
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