NEWSLETTER MAY 2007
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Greetings to all KBR members.
There are three issues which I feel require comment from me as Chairman.
1. BOARD MEMBERSHIP:
This is not the first time I have addressed this topic, but unfortunately the situation has not improved greatly. My recent requests resulted in Noel Newnham offering his services. In the past twelve months Noel has become a valued director, bringing a wealth of experience to the Board. We need more like him.
This will be my last year as Chairman, and at this stage I do not intend nominating for re-election at the AGM. I have been involved since 1992, and I feel it is time for others to take up the reins. I believe all current members of KBR should consider whether they have the necessary attributes to stand for a position on the Board of the Company.
As I have stated previously, it is not a role for everyone.
Potential candidates need to have an interest and a talent for administration, and the free time necessary to address the responsibilities associated with board
membership. This being said, in a pool of around 2400 members, there must be a number of potential directors. Please give this serious consideration and speak to me or any of the other directors if you have any questions.
Anyone wishing to stand for election at the next AGM, must complete the application by September 30.
2. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWIMMING POOL ROOF:
A review of the Budget for 2007-08 printed in this newsletter, will disclose an allocation for the replacement of the pool roof. Inspection of the canvas sails has shown that the material needs replacing.
After long discussion and investigation, the Board has decided to replace the present structure with a curved roof (similar to the Administration roof) clad in Colourbond. While all directors will be sorry to see the end of the sails, the selected course of action will be a long term solution, will address the problem of removal of leaf litter, and will give a large surface area for the collection of precious water.
The replacement of the sails would cost in excess of $100,000.00, would have a life of 10 to 15 years, would still present the difficulty of leaf litter removal, and would not provide the same potential for water collection.
The anticipated cost of this construction will be $160,000, a figure that cannot be factored sensibly into the maintenance budget. Hence the Board has decided to call for $150,000.00 as a one-off member contribution. This sum has been shown as a separate item at the end of the normal maintenance budget.
John and the staff are to be congratulated on cost containment in the normal annual costs.
3. FORFEITURE OF SHARES:
Under the Constitution of KBR, members who allow their maintenance fees to remain unpaid beyond September 30 in any year may have their share or shares forfeited at a general meeting, on the recommendation of the Board.
KBR operates as a “balanced budget” company, and any non payment of maintenance fees in any year places unfair pressure on the day to day performance of the Resort.
In the past, the Board has erred on the compassionate side, and allowed non paid fees to accrue for at least two years. After due consideration, the directors have decided, in the interest of “fairness to all concerned”, to discontinue this practice.
Hence, effective October 1 2007, members with outstanding maintenance fees on that date will come under consideration for forfeiture within the terms of the Forfeiture Policy.
The above change will not affect members who have approached the manager and entered into a scheme of arrangement to address financial hardship.
Jim Gallagher
MANAGEMENT REPORT
We are very pleased with the recent share sale offer that we made through our members. Once again we have been overwhelmed by the positive response which has seen this offering oversubscribed. We have accepted all applications received and the additional capital will allow us to continue the upgrading of resort facilities.
We sincerely thank all those who have introduced new members as they are the long- term lifeblood of KBR.
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FEES
The annual maintenance fee for the 2007-2008 financial year has been set at $500 (inc. GST). The board has agreed to the replacement of the roof over the swimming pool with a permanent steel structure.
We have assessed the cost of this work at approximately $160,000 and have included this cost ($50) as a one-off expense in the maintenance fee.
It is therefore anticipated that the maintenance fee for the 2008-2009 financial year will reduce to approximately $451. A copy of our budget is included with this newsletter.
TIMESHARE USAGE REQUEST FORM
Included is a timeshare usage request form which can be completed and sent back to the resort to advise us what you want to do with your week(s).
Alternatively, the same form can be accessed in the members’ section of the KBR website and submitted via email.www.kynetonbushresort.com.au
WATER TANKS
We have now installed four 22,500 litre water tanks: two at the swimming pool complex, and two at the maintenance shed. We are planning additional tanks the water from which will be used for the gardens and grounds.
Guests can get drinking water from a small tank located behind reception. After the recent rain, the tank is now full.
COMPLETITION OF APARTMENT
The first apartment has now been completed and we are very happy with the way it has turned out. It is a modern three bedroom (sleep 6) apartment with stainless steel appliances, decking, a 42 inch plasma TV and great views to the lake
If you are interested, during your next stay at the resort you can upgrade to the new apartment for $200. Please contact us if you are interested in utilising this new apartment.
Now that the first apartment is completed we are working on the next two apartments and are hopeful that they will be finished by the end of June.
NEW POOL COMPLEX ROOF
This financial year we will be replacing the pool complex roof at a cost of approximately $160,000.
As advised in the last newsletter, the sails have reached their “used-by” dateand due to maintenance and safety issues are no longer of practical use to the resort. We intend attaching a further two water tanks to the new steel roof which will be used for pool requirements.
We are currently planning to undertake this work in the spring, probably the first two weeks of October, weather permitting. All going well the pool will be out action for no more than two weeks.
BIKE HIRE SYSTEM
The bicycles require constant maintenance and are quite an expense for the resort to carry in its annual budget. We endeavour to maintain approximately 40 bikes in good working order but this task is a constant challenge for our small maintenance team.
We have therefore decided to introduce a bike hire system on a trial basis similar to that used at Cedar Lakes Resort in Queensland.
The trial of the new system will start from mid June and the following hire charges will apply:
Daily Hire: $3.00
Weekly Hire: $10.00
Daily Villa Pack (up to 6 bikes): $15.00
We are also introducing a Rental and Indemnity Form that the guest will need to complete when hiring bikes.
Of course members and guests are more than welcome to bring their own bikes but please make sure that you do not forget your helmets.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Our 12 vacant blocks that are situated between Edgecombe Road, Wedge court and Melville Drive are now ready to be put on the market.
We will be giving you, our members, first option on these attractive blocks for a period of three months before we go to the public market.
Marketing material will be sent to you in June once we have settled our arrangements with our selling agent. In the meantime expressions of interest can be lodged with us here at KBR.
NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
We are investigating the installation of a new children’s playground to be situated either by the lake or or on the site of the existing playground. The new playground will be a more modern facility.
NEW ACTIVITIES/MULTI PURPOSE ROOM
The Board has approved the construction of this facility that will be located at the southern end of the existing reception building. All going well we would expect to begin and complete these works in the spring.
REMOVAL OF DANGEROUS TREES
Due to the extreme drought conditions we have watched many of our native trees wilt and perish throughout the resort. We will have to begin a culling of these dead trees as many are in close proximity to buildings.
POLICIES
The Board is making steady progress on the review of existing policies and the creation of new ones.
All policies are available at reception for members’ perusal.
Two policies that will be of particular interest are the revised Forfeiture Policy and the new Seniors’ Policy both of which are summarised in the following two paragraphs.
FORFEITURE POLICY
Maintenance fees are the primary source of income for the Resort, and it is therefore important that all members pay their fees promptly.
The Board will take a fair but firm approach when dealing with the collection of outstanding maintenance fees. From time to time some members will have difficulty paying their fees because of financial hardship and the management will endeavour to assist these people.
However, we need to ensure that there is only a minimal number of non-paying members at any one time.
The Board has declared that any member whose fees remain outstanding on 1st October of any given year may become liable for forfeiture in accordance with the Resort’s Constitution (Rule 3.7).
SENIORS’ POLICY
The Board is sympathetic to elderly, long-term shareholders who may experience difficulty paying the annual maintenance fee.
These members will have been members of KBR for at least 15 years and have reached the age of 70 years.
They will be able to relinquish their KBR week and thus be relieved of the burden of having to pay an annual maintenance fee account.
They will become Senior Members with the following continuing entitlements:
1. Be able to make a booking of one week per share relinquished at KBR for the payment of that year’s annual maintenance fee;
2. Exchange company membership will continue to be recognised by KBR, and, as such, the member will have the opportunity of purchasing bonus weeks offered by the exchange companies;
3. Day-use rights will continue (conditions will apply);
4. Will continue to receive newsletters and annual reports;
5. Will retain the right to discounted rental rates at KBR.
Full details and conditions can be found on the KBR website or enquiries can be made directly to the resort reception staff.
CLEANING UP THE COMMON LAND AREA AT THE BACK OF THE RESORT
Ken and his maintenance team have put a lot of work into cleaning fallen debris throughout the resort including the extensive common land area on the eastern boundary.
This is all part of our fire awareness program which is a continual activity.
INCREASE IN THE COST OF ELECTRICITY
Members will note in the budget document that we will be incurring a significant increase in electricity cost next year. We have enjoyed the benefit of a three year fixed price contract which matures in July and are now faced with the current market pricing.
The Board has decided to enter a four year contract giving us a degree of certainty in our budgeting process for the future. We continue to look for energy savings in our everyday use and encourage guests to be conscious of resource use, whether it be energy or water.
REMOVAL OF OLD OVENS
We have continued the removal of the old ovens from the villas and have replaced them with convection microwave ovens with grilling functions.
MOSAIC MARKERS FOR THE MINI GOLF
Through the talents of one of our local members, Kathryn Portelli, we are watching with great interest the numbering of the holes on the mini golf course. What we anticipated would be a simple numbering exercise has evolved into a significant work of art.
Once this is completed Kathryn will be turning her considerable talents to the design and construction of our large chess board and a snakes and ladders board.
These added features will set KBR apart from any other Australian timeshare resort.
STAFF PROFILE: NICKY EASTER
I’m thirty odd years old, married, with two children. I moved to Kyneton two and a half years ago, from The Basin (foot of the Dandenongs, in Victoria.)
Previously, I worked at the ANZ Bank for a period of 10 years, I left the bank to have children. When I resumed work, it was with the YMCA Knox Leisureworks in Boronia, where I was a qualified lifeguard, receptionist, membership/sales assistant and administration officer. I left this job because of moving to the country.
When I first came to Kyneton I worked for ‘Hardwicks Meatworks’, the local abattoir, where I cleaned offices. After working there for nearly a year I ended up doing reception work and various other office tasks. I also picked up another job, cleaning on a Friday at the Kyneton Bushland Resort. One Friday morning I was approached by Meryl and Wendy, who are in charge of the housekeeping department, if I was interested in working in reception.
So here I am, doing reception work and running the activities programme, or trying to! You will never be stuck for conversation when talking to me, I tend to be a bit of a ‘have-a-chat’. I love meeting guests/members, finding out where they have been or going to. The kids activities are good fun, I’m a bit arty crafty and I enjoy taking guests out on tour in the resort bus to the wineries etc. I’II probably be around for a while, it would be a pleasure to meet you all at some stage……..
Nicky Easter
BUDGET
| 2006/07 | 2007/08 |
Accounting/ Secretarial | 18000 | 18000 |
Audit | 15000 | 20000 |
Advertising | 5000 | 5000 |
Bank Charges, Fees and Interest | 40000 | 50000 |
Body Corporate Contribution | 25600 | 25600 |
Cleaning Materials (Villas, Laundry, Pool & General Areas) | 26000 | 24000 |
Computing Expenses | 8000 | 10000 |
Commissions | 7000 | 5000 |
Consultancy/Contractors | 5000 | 55000 |
Directors Fees & Expenses | 30000 | 30000 |
Electricity | 105000 | 145000 |
Gas | 55000 | 55000 |
Entertaining Members & Guests (Golf, Activities, Austar, etc) | 40000 | 60000 |
Insurance & Workcare | 40000 | 50000 |
Laudry | 55000 | 50000 |
Legal | 5000 | 5000 |
Motor Vehicles | 10000 | 10000 |
Postage | 10000 | 10000 |
Rates | | |
Council | 40000 | 40000 |
Water | 30000 | 30000 |
Repairs & Maintenance | | |
Sports Equipment | 5000 | 3000 |
Grounds, Plant & Equipment | 30000 | 40000 |
Villas Maintenance | 25000 | 40000 |
Villas General | 35000 | 50000 |
Other Buildings (Reception, Housekeeping and Swimming Pool etc.) | 30000 | 10000 |
Room Consumables (Linen, Crockery, Kitchenware & Starter Pack) | 25000 | 25000 |
Employment Costs (Consultancy, Salaries & Wages) | 550000 | 585000 |
Superannuation | 35000 | 40000 |
Uniforms, Training, etc. | 15000 | 10000 |
Security | 6000 | 10000 |
Stationery & Printing | 5000 | 8000 |
Statutory Reporting Expenses | 3000 | 3000 |
Telephone | 15000 | 10000 |
Rubbish Removal | 10000 | 10000 |
Subscriptions (Industry Associations) | 12000 | 2000 |
Sundry Expenses (Bar, Kiosk, DVDs, etc.) | 10000 | 30000 |
Capital Works - Replacement of Pool Complex Roof | | 160000 |
Total | 1380600 | 1733600 |
| | |
Less Income | | |
Rental | 120000 | 130000 |
Administration Fees & Interest | 15000 | 15000 |
Body Corporate Management Fees | 23500 | 23500 |
Resales | 70000 | 70000 |
Sundry Net Income (Telephone, Bar, Kiosk, DVDs, Activities, etc.) | 30000 | 70000 |
Members Contribution to replacement of Pool Complex Roof | | 150000 |
Total | 258500 | 458500 |
|
|
|
Net Expenditure | 1122100 | 1275100 |
| | |
Number Of Shares | 2,805 | 2805 |
Maintenance Fees ($) | $400.04 | $454.58 |
GST ($) | $40.00 | $45.46 |
Total Fee ($) | $440.04 | $500 |