(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) "Governing authority of a county" means the county commissioner, board of county commissioners, judge of the probate court, or other person or body of persons at the time entrusted by law with the administration of the fiscal affairs of any county.

(2) "Governing authority of a municipality" means the council, board of aldermen, or other person or body of persons at the time entrusted by law with the administration of the fiscal affairs of any municipal corporation.

(3) "Project" means the acquiring, constructing, equipping, maintaining, operating, managing, and promoting of recreation and accommodation and tourist facilities and services, including, but not limited to, recreation centers, outdoor recreation experiment stations, playgrounds, parks, marinas, swimming and wading pools, lakes, golf courses, tennis courts, athletic fields and courts, club houses, gymnasiums, museums, convention halls, pageants, auditoriums, stables, restaurants, hotels, motels, hunting and fishing preserves, historic sites and attractions, and any other facilities or services that the department may desire to undertake, including the related buildings and the usual and convenient facilities appertaining to any undertakings and any extensions or improvements of any facilities, and the acquisition of necessary property therefor, all as may be related to the development of recreational and tourist accommodations and facilities as the department may deem necessary, convenient, or desirable.

(b) The department shall have power:

(1) To acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise and to hold, lease, use, and operate any personal property of every kind and character for its purposes under this Code section. Upon request of the department, the State Properties Commission is authorized, subject to the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 16 of Title 50, to acquire by purchase, acceptance, or condemnation, for and on behalf of the State of Georgia, any and all lands to be used in a project as defined by this Code section. When a project is proposed for construction on any lands owned by any county or by any municipality, the governing authority or body of the county or of the municipality is authorized to convey title to such lands to the department through the State Properties Commission if the property is unserviceable or cannot be advantageously or beneficially used by the county or municipality so conveying; provided, however, payment shall be to the credit of the general funds of the county or municipality and shall be equal to the reasonable value of the lands as may be determined by three appraisers to be agreed upon by the governing authority or body of such county or municipality and the chairman of the State Properties Commission;

(2) To execute contracts, deeds, leases, subleases, and all other necessary or convenient instruments, including contracts for construction of projects and leases of projects or contracts with respect to the use of projects which the department causes to be erected or acquired, provided that no deed, lease, sublease, or similar instrument by which the department conveys an interest in land shall be valid unless approved in writing by the Governor, the Attorney General, and the state auditor;

(3) To accept grants of money or materials or property of any kind from the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof for the purposes of the department under this Code section, provided that any grant shall be upon such terms and conditions as the United States of America, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, may impose;

(4) To act as agent for the United States of America, or any agency, department, corporation, or instrumentality thereof, in any manner within the purposes or powers of the department under this Code section;

(5) To receive gifts, donations, or contributions from any person, firm, or corporation for the purposes of the department under this Code section;

(6) To hold, use, administer, and expend such sum or sums as may hereafter be received as income or as gifts, or as may be appropriated by authority of the General Assembly for any of the purposes of the department under this Code section;

(7) To prescribe, fix, collect, and revise from time to time rates, fees, tolls, and charges for the services, facilities, or commodities furnished, including leases, concessions, or subleases of the department's lands or facilities;

(8) To contract with institutions of higher learning for the purpose of securing qualified specialists to aid in any of its projects;

(9) To do all things necessary, convenient, or incidental to carry out the intent of, and the purpose and powers expressed and given in, this Code section; and

(10) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, including the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection and the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 16 of Title 50, the "State Properties Code," the commissioner of natural resources is authorized to sublease the Park Marina property on Lake Allatoona at Red Top Mountain State Park, Bartow County, Georgia, and the Beaverdam Marina property on Richard B. Russell Lake, Elbert County, Georgia, for terms which coincide with the primary leases between the State of Georgia and the United States Army Corps of Engineers; provided, however, that said subleases are approved by the primary lessor, the United States Army Corps of Engineers.