National Trust SA faces new financial dispute over $230,000

Another National Trust SA (NTSA) branch has revealed it is locked in a financial dispute with the charity over $230,000, a month after the ABC reported on a nearly identical situation.

As volunteers continue to speak publicly about their grievances, the state opposition flagged it will move for an inquiry to examine "governance concerns" at the conservation group, which manages more than 100 heritage properties.

The latest branch to speak publicly is Millicent, in the state's South East, which alleged the organisation is withholding the proceeds of a land sale.

The cottage, known as Woodgreen, was bequeathed to NTSA in 1975 by Frances Gower "for the use and benefit of the Millicent branch", according to a will seen by the ABC.

It was sold in 2015 so the proceeds could be used on local projects, but volunteers and NTSA's head office now disagree over how it was to be apportioned.

'Getting no answers'

Millicent branch chair Barry Long said the branch first agreed to let NTSA invest the money for the community's benefit, but began asking for it back roughly three years ago.

He said at the time, he was "concerned the money might be absorbed in the general funds", which the charity insisted had not occurred.

"It's just so we had more control over our destiny … we've been running things here for 50 years without any debt, which goes to show what our volunteers are like," Mr Long said.

He said the branch had been asking for proof the charity still possessed the principal funds, without any success.

"We started asking questions of where this money actually was, because we were talking about a few projects at the time," he said.

"You'd send an email, you wouldn't get a reply. You would ask a question … [if you] met the CEO at the time, [but] the subject would be changed and you wouldn't get an answer."

The Millicent National Trust Museum is home to the state's largest collection of antique horse-drawn vehicles and runs a heritage-restoration workshop.

Trust says community receiving money

In response, NTSA chief executive officer Nicolette Di Lernia said the charity operated as "a single legal entity" and "under [its] rules, the NTSA Council has the sole power to acquire and dispose of assets".

"As recorded in the [minutes], the funds were invested. Interest is paid to the branch annually as agreed," she said, confirming the figure was roughly $60,000.

She also alleged the "branch did not adequately maintain the property" and the head office was forced to arrange maintenance.

Mr Long denied that, saying the charity never complained to him about the property's condition and it was tenanted up to the time of sale.

'Dozens' of members contact opposition

The episode is one of several ongoing conflicts between the charity and its grassroots members across the state.

Last month, the Moonta branch commenced an action in the SA Supreme Court to overturn its sacking, sparked by conflicts over how the town's Cornish Mines should be managed.

Similar to Millicent, the Renmark branch is also trying to gain control of $460,000 from a separate land sale.

On top of that, Ms Di Lernia previously told the ABC the organisation had "about" two years' worth of cash reserves left and was looking to sell about five "non-core" properties to keep itself afloat.

She said she had been contacted by "dozens" of members about "governance concerns", without going into specific examples.

"I'm hearing concerns from volunteers and grassroots members right across the state and it's important we take note of them," she said.

"This isn't an attack on the National Trust, or about pre-judging outcomes.

"This is simply about letting all parties have their say in a really transparent and open manner, and ensuring we have accountability and confidence in organisations like the National Trust."

Greens MLC Robert Simms said the party "will consider any proposal" but believed "an independent review to look at this, including [NTSA's] funding model, is more appropriate".

The charity receives no government funding and operates independently from government.

The SA government declined to comment on its position, but said it was "assessing what other options or levers might be available to assist the current situation" at Moonta.

One Nation was also contacted for comment.