National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) needs $4 million in capital funding over the next four years to pay for urgent restoration and conservation works at its 10 heritage-listed properties.
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Of that amount, $3.2 million is needed for urgent works, Trust managing director Matthew Smithies said in a funding submission.
One of the 10 properties, Clarendon, needs more than $1.5 million to cover drainage, foundation and footing treatment, wall repairs, consultancy and more.
Mr Smithies said National Trust Tasmania had an annual operating budget of "just over $1 million, including an annual grant of $311,500 from the state government".
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In 2016 and 2017 National Trust Tasmania received emergency capital funding of $355,000, comprising $275,000 from the federal government, $40,000 from the state government and $40,000 from City of Launceston council.
But this amount was not enough to address the underlying backlog, he said.
"...the NTT simply does not have the capacity to self fund restoration and conservation projects in respect of what are in effect community assets valued at over $10 million."
"In fact, it struggles to meet ongoing maintenance costs from its limited operating budget," Mr Smithies said.
National Trust Tasmania's funding request was brought up by Windermere independent MLC Ivan Dean during budget estimates this week.
"The National Trust is in trouble ... it currently cannot fulfil its legislative requirements; it cannot maintain the 10 iconic buildings that it is responsible for," Mr Dean said.
"The longer it is left, the greater the disrepair of these buildings. It's a plea for urgent assistance," he said.
During the meeting Premier and Heritage Minister Will Hodgman said the state government would commit $350,000 in 2018-19 budget "to enable the Trust to address its most pressing capital needs".
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