Hi all,
What interests me about this whole debate is that no one seems to be
addressing the core concern of the conservation groups approached - that for
the same money much, much more could be protected. If someone goes to the
effort of raising enough to pull off Simon's plan, why not invest in a
different property that has more value for biodiversity? After all, the
groups approached to buy Bowra no doubt consulted with experts to come to
their decision, an offer to buy the property outright for them would not
have been taken lightly. I have visited Bowra and it's a lovely place with
some amazing birds, no denying that, but at the same time, it's no
Mornington Sanctuary, Broome Bird Observatory, or Barren Grounds...you want
someone to buy it, you have to make your case on more than rave birding
reviews. Let's hear some good science.
Regards,
Chris
On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 8:49 AM, Simon Blanchflower <
> wrote:
> This is an interesting debate. Perhaps one thing to consider is that people
> on this list and perhaps through the Birds Australia mailing list are
> specifically invited to particpate in a opportunity to part share the
> ownership of this property with others through say a trust structure or
> perhaps through a tennants in common arrangement. I think the trust
> structure is probably easiest (plus it would be easier to administer /
> provide liquidity for multiple interests) as there are a number of trustees
> available that can "run" the trust and allow for exit and entry of unit
> holders through time.
>
> The key issue is the total funds needed in order to "run" the property in
> perpetuity. But let's say the property is worth $1.5m and the ongoing costs
> are say $200k per annum (which may be too little or too much) the total cost
> would be about $4m (assuming an 8% discount rate) needed in the trust to
> purchase the property and to run it.
>
> So... if we could get say 1000 unit holders interested and assume equal
> ownership in the trust that would be $4000 each - almost equivalent to a set
> of HANZABs.
>
> Now that would be of interest to me and others I suspect, but we would of
> course need to see whether there are any other properties in the area which
> might be better suited from a cost/benefit perspective.
>
> Just a thought!
> Simon.
>
>
>
>
>
> ---- Phil & Sue Gregory <> wrote:
> > Hi Peter,
> > Good summary of the Bowra situation on birding-aus; I had a a
> > wealthy American client a couple of years ago who was very impressed
> > with the place and actually got a group together to fund the purchase,
> > hoping to give it to one of the well-known conservation bodies. The
> > stumbling block proved to be the apparent need for hundreds of
> > thousands of $ as management each year.
> > This was a great shame as I too would love to see the place kept as
> > is, and aided in recovering from stocking. I fear new owners taking it
> > over, giving birders the flick then running intensive stocking and
> > clearance. I thought the price was very reasonable too, it seems such
> > shame we may lose this gem over what is a relatively paltry sum in
> > business terms.
> > Phil Gregory
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