I agree with the earlier two replies, in particular that
* Compulsory Strata Management (CSM) is to be actively considered. But seeking CSM would not be my first choice;
* Jimmy’s point of informing owners of exactly how life would change if a CSM appointed; and
* Jimmy’s point on getting a third party such as StrataAnswers to give owners the facts of life. In my experience, owners (many of which are unthinking drones) often defer to the existing committee on most issues, but are often nevertheless curious to hear what outside third parties have to say. Their interest heightens even more when they are not footing the bill of the third party.
Also I would urge you to rely on a flyer rather than a meeting or webinar or similar for various reasons:
1. Folk may be unable to attend a meeting or not be tech savvy enough to log into a webinar and
2. Many elderly folks when confronted with the possibility of higher levies will want to run the matter by family or friends, so the earlier you send out a DETAILED flyer covering ALL the relevant points, the better for you.
I suggest you do NOT ask the committee’s permission nor give them a heads up about your flyer as they will only discourage you (politely or impolitely) from sending one out. They may deceive you by stating that they will hold a meetings where all views will be aired, only for you to find out on the day that while all views are aired, you are limited to 2 minutes of air time! Where their views, their experts etc will have all the time they need.
When writing your flyer give your name and contact details and present the case in all its history. Don’t assume readers in the complex are au fait with the issue. Focus not only on how the committee may be or is breaching the SSM Act, but also on the pockets of owners: make clear that the committee’s solution will cost more over time than your proposal.
As someone who has recently been to NCAT (against a strata committee/OC) and won, I suggest if you make your way there you must have bucket loads of evidence. I did and that’s why I won. In your case, in addition to listing the breaches of the Act, you must back up your position with:
* A costing of recent repairs and maintenance (R&M) costs, say over the last 3 or 5 years;
* Duration the lift was out of commission for R&M;
* Likely costs over the next 10 or so years to R&M, if the current lift is not replaced (the quotes should help with this);
* Duration the lift will be out of commission in the future for anticipated and unanticipated R&M;
* Quotes (plural) for lift replacement (total) and estimated life;
* Estimate of upgrade cost per unit; and
* Estimate of increase in the value per residences in the complex that such an upgrade will result.
In fact, the more that I think of this, the more I am convinced that your flyer should be a summary of the NCAT application .