Australia, Rebels apply for new Bay clubhouse

OFF THE WIRE
Source: frasercoastchronicle.com.au
Toni Mcrae
A REBELS Motorcycle Club member has applied to turn a Urangan equipment and vehicle depot into a full-on clubhouse.
Gary Hyland, a member of the local Rebels chapter, has applied for a material change of use development permit from the council and under council regulations was forced to advertise his proposal on Wednesday.
The Chronicle has been contacted by readers about the application.
Yesterday Mr Hyland said he could not comment on the application other than to say, “We’ve made sure we are doing this all legal and above board from the word go.
“We are looking to extend our depot at Urangan into a clubhouse and we hope that people will not object to our plan because we are doing everything exactly right and we do have the support of local neighbours.
“This move is for us and our families; we do have families.”
Mr Hyland, 49, is one of five men charged with threatening a Maryborough couple last year to deter them from opening a body piercing business in Kent Street.
When the men faced court on that matter the jury was dismissed as the result of a mistrial.
A new date for the trial has been set for January 17.
An insider told the Chronicle that the Rebels “do a lot to help local charities”.
On December 18, he said, the Rebels would hold a function at the Hervey Bay Hotel where a raffle for a Harley-Davidson Street Bob would be drawn.
“Tickets are $200 each, but there are only 200 being sold,” the insider said.
“We will be giving some $5000 from that to local charities.”
Police confirmed the group had been granted an off-premise licence to hold the December 18 function.
If the clubhouse application goes through the police will also keep an eye on the Southern Cross Circuit premises as they do with all licensed premises.
Fraser Coast Regional Council’s CEO Andrew Brien told the Chronicle yesterday:
“It would be inappropriate for council to comment on any development application while it is being processed.”