The Alexandra Toy Library can breathe a sigh of relief after the Vincent Community Board agreed to not charge the non-profit organisation rent for the next year.
A report to consider rent levels and leases for community groups and sports clubs on land owned by the Central Otago District Council was tabled at the meeting on Tuesday.
Alexandra Squash Club, Alexandra Golf Club and the Alexandra Toy Library at Molyneux Park were on the list, as well as the Omakau toy library.
The lease for the New Zealand Merino Shearing Society Inc, which has a storage shed attached to Molyneux Stadium, was also reviewed.
Board members agreed it was unfair the Alexandra Toy Library paid rent and rates comparable with those of the golf and squash clubs.
Member Claire Goudie asked why the board could not assist the toy library with rent relief.
''All the other clubs have money to pay the rates,'' she said.
The library paid rent of $500 plus GST and $1451 in rates annually, while the toy library in Omakau paid $300 plus GST but no rates.
The squash club paid $279 plus GST and $1618 in rates, while the golf club paid almost $957 in rent and $1296 in rates. Member Malcolm Topliss said the move would mean the toy library would be ''unfairly penalised''.
The Alexandra Toy Library was only open for an hour and a-half on Saturday.
The board decided the toy library would not have to pay rent for a year, until a new policy for leases to sport and community groups was confirmed.
The other leases were also renewed but no rents increased. After the meeting, toy library president Lana John told the Otago Daily Times said she was ''thrilled and grateful'' for the rent relief. It was a ''great relief'' to the organisation which could now focus on a ''sustainable'' future, she said.
At the meeting, applications to the Earnscleugh-Manuherikia Promotions budget were also approved, including $2000 to the Lauder Ukulele Festival, $1000 to St Bathans Fete next year, and $2500 for the new Down to Earth Wine Celebrations being planned for October this year.
The Alexandra Blossom Festival will also have a grant application made to the Central Lakes Trust by the board on behalf of the festival committee.
Mrs Goudie, who was on the festival committee, said last year it could not apply to the trust for the grant because the committee did not have charitable status.
''Hopefully by next year we will have charitable status,'' she said.
