[200William-EC SP67851] FW: A comment re our levies

Fri Dec 3 21:36:04 AEDT 2021

Hi Craig,

I will be happy to be part of this.

Regards,
Ed

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From: ec-bounces at 200william.com <ec-bounces at 200william.com> on behalf of Matthew Perkins - Private <matt at perkins.id.au>
Sent: Friday, December 3, 2021 9:30:59 PM
To: ec at 200william.com <ec at 200william.com>
Subject: Re: [200William-EC SP67851] FW: A comment re our levies

Hi Craig,

 Perhaps email an agenda for the meeting to Leanne and then she can propose some dates. Im happy to zoom in and can usually move my schedule around if need be.

I have no objection to you removing weeds on level 7

Kind regards

Matt.

On 3/12/21 7:19 pm, Craig Laforest wrote:

Good evening everyone on the Body Corporate,

Would you please respond to my message below re setting up a meeting to discuss our budget and my offer to weed level 7 (see pictures of the weeds). As we are all aware, the levies are so high compared to other buildings of a similar style and inclusions.

The building is not being maintained as it should and if there is anything I can do to reduce expenses, then I’m happy to assist.

Darren:

  1.  Please do not put notices up with blue tack as it stains the walls (see picture from level E). Simply ask us for another notice board to be put up somewhere on E level and we’ll be happy to do so.
  2.  Check the drains to see if we have weeds growing (see picture). As we have seen over the years with the membranes, the weed roots can grow into the areas surrounding them.
  3.  Many, many residents are putting recyclable products into the garbage bins (red).  You must check these bins from time to time and if you see a problem then put a letter together to send out in each resident’s mail box.  I always recycle.  I personally move so much of the recyclable goods from the garbage bins to the recycling bins.

Darren, as you know, I have discussed some of the issues you have not addressed in the past with your manager.  I have copied him in regarding the current matters.

Regards,

Craig

From: Craig Laforest <cscl at optusnet.com.au<mailto:cscl at optusnet.com.au>>
Sent: Sunday, 28 November 2021 9:28 AM
To: 'brookbeves at bigpond.com<mailto:brookbeves at bigpond.com>' <brookbeves at bigpond.com<mailto:brookbeves at bigpond.com>>; 'Matthew Perkins - Private' <matt at perkins.id.au<mailto:matt at perkins.id.au>>
Cc: 'ec at 200william.com<mailto:ec at 200william.com>' <ec at 200william.com<mailto:ec at 200william.com>>
Subject: RE: [200William-EC SP67851] A comment re our levies

Good morning,

I’m more than happy to get together to find ways to reduce the budget. We must have our building manager to seek competitive quotes even though we have had some of the same contractors for some time (plumber etc).

As an accountant, I’m happy to look at how to find ways to get our expenses down. STM must follow our guidelines also.

You will remember back in April I did mention that the plants on level 7 were overgrown (and still are) with weeds and Darren mentioned that he would ask the cleaners to get these done. I thought the idea of the cleaners doing this work was not the best advice. I love gardening and am more than happy to save on this expense and remove them.  Let me know please everyone.  We have to look at simple matters like this to save.

Craig

From: ec-bounces at 200william.com<mailto:ec-bounces at 200william.com> <ec-bounces at 200william.com<mailto:ec-bounces at 200william.com>> On Behalf Of brookbeves at bigpond.com<mailto:brookbeves at bigpond.com>
Sent: Saturday, 20 November 2021 7:41 AM
To: Matthew Perkins - Private <matt at perkins.id.au<mailto:matt at perkins.id.au>>
Cc: ec at 200william.com<mailto:ec at 200william.com>
Subject: Re: [200William-EC SP67851] A comment re our levies

Sent from my iPhone

On 19 Nov 2021, at 8:42 pm, Matthew Perkins - Private <matt at perkins.id.au<mailto:matt at perkins.id.au>> wrote:

I agree.  I have saved the strata at least 5k last year through rejecting inflated quotes or things we did not need in the BMC and I have saved the strata 7k going forward on building managers in the upcoming year. A couple of years back i saved us $10k on fire because I picked up incorrect information from the fire contractor.  I have asked multiple times to change the building fire contractor from the most expensive guys on the block newsound and yet newsound are still engaged. I can only ask I cant force STM to not use newsound. Im sure we also remember when i located PIa's fraudulent invoices as well in the strata and saved us god knows how much.   I also bring all major expenses in the BMC to the EC for discussion.  I hope there are more savings to be made but im no expert in building budgeting.  The engineers are telling us we are not putting aside enough money do we need new engineers ?  Do we need a meeting to go through the budget ?  Im happy to help if i can.

Matt

On 19/11/21 9:21 am, Brook Beves wrote:

Thank you Craig and a truer comment could not be made.

The levies within this strata have escalated to a ridiculous exorbitant extent that it deters any prospective purchasers resulting in a negative impact on the value of each unit.

The last AGM fiasco saw levies skyrocket without any prior warning or room for discussion amongst proprietors.  We are told the same pathetic excuses that its the result of the “rising cost of things”.

Where funds are required for capital works, a proper consultation should be undertaken and funds derived from a special levy, which is a common process with stratas.  Not tacking them on to the Capital Works Fund without any explanation.

You correctly state Craig that these budgets should be thoroughly analysed and approved well before any enactment.

Brook Beves

From: ec-bounces at 200william.com<mailto:ec-bounces at 200william.com> [mailto:ec-bounces at 200william.com] On Behalf Of Craig Laforest
Sent: Friday, 19 November 2021 8:13 AM
To: ec at 200william.com<mailto:ec at 200william.com>
Subject: [200William-EC SP67851] A comment re our levies

Hello committee,

I went along last night to Richardson and Wrench’s auction of 402/200 William Street.

It was passed in and the comment was made to me by one of the agents that the reason it didn’t sell is the high levies, which we know we have. It will be a great exercise when we can go through our budgets in the future to see how we can make our levies more competitive compared to other buildings which also don’t have a pool, Concierge etc.

We’ve talked about obtaining competitive quotes for any regular expenses and perhaps we have to do more of this in the future. Other than capital expenses to maintain the building, we have to somehow get our expenses down.

Cheers,

Craig

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Matt Perkins

0403571333

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