A crowdfunding campaign has prompted a change of heart from a south coast council, which will now make a bid for a prized block of land on the shores of Jervis Bay.
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Shoalhaven Council voted on Thursday night to try to buy the waterfront Huskisson land, now being used as a makeshift car park, to develop it in a way that preserves its iconic and unimpeded water views.
The council had last year declined the opportunity buy the land, owned by Club Jervis Bay, for $4.3 million, sparking the campaign. The club was offered up to $8 million for the site in 2007 before the council imposed new height restrictions on the block.
Campaigner and local bed and breakfast owner Kate Broadhurst said she believed a huge groundswell of support from locals for its online campaign on Facebook and crowdsourcing site Ozcrowd persuaded the council of the economic and tourism value the land holds in the small town.
"The 'Save the Heart of Huskisson' campaign has been very successful because individuals and businesses are putting money where their hearts are," Ms Broadhurst said.
"We are at $90,000 after six days, we are going to continue crowdfunding. It may be that council needs us to get them over the line. The council may need our funds to do the kind of development that we would like to see."
Ozcrowd director Nick Karolidis said the campaign is already one of Ozcrowd's largest. If it reached its $1 million target, it would be the largest community crowdfunded project in Australia, he said.
"What has been unique to the Huskisson project is that the average contribution is about $647, much higher than what we tend to see in the crowdfunding industry," Mr Karolidis said.
Shoalhaven mayor Joanna Gash, who had previously said the council could not afford to invest in the site, said the campaign had convinced it that the site was important to the town.
"We listened to the community. It is difficult for council because it's a big decision. We have to consider how people will feel about their rates going to this specific issue in Huskisson," Ms Gash said.
"Council will have to sell some of its assets. We have a deficit of $7 million to $8 million, which is difficult to come to terms with."
Club Jervis Bay president Rod Simpson said the club had to act in its best interest, as well as that of the community.
"We haven't decided who will get the land. The tender process will finish on the 12th of February and it will be up to the board to decide who wins the tender," he said.
"We would like to get over $4 million for it.
"The board of directors have to be responsible. We know the community wants the land for public space. However, we are required to do the right thing by the club, otherwise we're not doing our job."
