Rappville Pub vs Red Tape
Donation protected
Rappville Pub was built in 1911 by Henry Valentine Rapp. Its constructed of timber, weatherboards on the outside and lining boards on the inside. It’s not sound proof you can hear every creak as someone walks up the stairs or down the hallway. There’s a ghost, not sure who he is or why he’s here but he’s here and causes no trouble. The pub provides the community with a meeting spot, we have no pokies, tab or keno we are a purely social pub and have provided a space for local musicians to come and share their gifts and talents with us. Two episodes of Heartbeat were filmed here. Families and friends from distant places, such as Israel, France, Germany, the list is endless, find their way here via Wikicamps and enjoy their aussie pub experience mingling with the locals, winning the breakfast trays of bacon and sharing their prize for breakfast. Occasionally some of the locals invite our guests to come and have a tour of their farms, have morning tea or just hang out. It’s a great experience for an otherwise isolated community.
Unfortunately this is all about to stop. State government rules and regulations which are imposed and enforced by local councils are going to lead the pub into being closed down. We don’t have the financial capacity to meet the demands of the Orders that have been imposed upon us in the timeframes given. We are asking for more help to get over this bureaucratic hurdle so we can continue to restore this grand old pub.
The pub has been neglected by authorities for over 15 years, prior to purchase we inspected council records pertaining to the pub and found only documents relating to a colorbond shed. We had initial discussions with council in regard to fixing the verandah which was falling off the building and was a danger to public health. We proceeded with these works and have successfully replaced all the rotting timber, fixed the broken cast iron lacework panels which had fallen out and smashed on the ground and repainted the building in heritage colours. During this work we realised we needed to employ the services of a consultant engineer who was better equipped than us to deal with council.
Prior to our purchase the pub operated a commercial kitchen called the KISS café and offered an extensive menu. When we took over we continued to use the kitchen after some urgent electrical repairs and equipment upgrades were done. We understood that the kitchen would need an entire upgrade and have been working towards that. We now have a prohibition order on the kitchen and can no longer use it. In order to keep supplying meals we have hired the Lions Club Van at a cost and that money goes back into the community.
Prior to purchase we asked for a sewage diagram but there wasn’t one. We now have orders to locate the trenches and have council inspect where the outfall goes. Fair enough. We have been told that we will have to upgrade the septic and because the area floods the water will have to be disinfected and chlorinated, so we are expecting another set of orders and a hefty bill.
The latest set of Orders are fire related and these are the straw that broke the camels back. Sprinkler systems or fire checking the walls etc, making sure all the doors open outwards, back to base alarms, ensuring fire containment in bedrooms for sixty minutes are just a few of the regulations. These new rules don’t just apply to us, they will apply to all pubs, clubs, halls etc. Many country communities will be affected by these new regulations.
Please help save an aussie icon and come and have a beer on us in this unique and beautiful pub. We are happy to supply more detailed information if required.
Kitchen $20,000
Fire Regs $40,000
Our campaign is a short one because our timeframes are immediate and the campaign will end on 30th July.
Unfortunately this is all about to stop. State government rules and regulations which are imposed and enforced by local councils are going to lead the pub into being closed down. We don’t have the financial capacity to meet the demands of the Orders that have been imposed upon us in the timeframes given. We are asking for more help to get over this bureaucratic hurdle so we can continue to restore this grand old pub.
The pub has been neglected by authorities for over 15 years, prior to purchase we inspected council records pertaining to the pub and found only documents relating to a colorbond shed. We had initial discussions with council in regard to fixing the verandah which was falling off the building and was a danger to public health. We proceeded with these works and have successfully replaced all the rotting timber, fixed the broken cast iron lacework panels which had fallen out and smashed on the ground and repainted the building in heritage colours. During this work we realised we needed to employ the services of a consultant engineer who was better equipped than us to deal with council.
Prior to our purchase the pub operated a commercial kitchen called the KISS café and offered an extensive menu. When we took over we continued to use the kitchen after some urgent electrical repairs and equipment upgrades were done. We understood that the kitchen would need an entire upgrade and have been working towards that. We now have a prohibition order on the kitchen and can no longer use it. In order to keep supplying meals we have hired the Lions Club Van at a cost and that money goes back into the community.
Prior to purchase we asked for a sewage diagram but there wasn’t one. We now have orders to locate the trenches and have council inspect where the outfall goes. Fair enough. We have been told that we will have to upgrade the septic and because the area floods the water will have to be disinfected and chlorinated, so we are expecting another set of orders and a hefty bill.
The latest set of Orders are fire related and these are the straw that broke the camels back. Sprinkler systems or fire checking the walls etc, making sure all the doors open outwards, back to base alarms, ensuring fire containment in bedrooms for sixty minutes are just a few of the regulations. These new rules don’t just apply to us, they will apply to all pubs, clubs, halls etc. Many country communities will be affected by these new regulations.
Please help save an aussie icon and come and have a beer on us in this unique and beautiful pub. We are happy to supply more detailed information if required.
Kitchen $20,000
Fire Regs $40,000
Our campaign is a short one because our timeframes are immediate and the campaign will end on 30th July.
Organizer
Jayne Fitzpatrick
Organizer
New South Wales
