By PETER DOUGLAS
FOR the second time this month, former Yarra Ranges Shire mayor Tim Heenan has launched an extraordinary attack on the present council.
A seething Mr Heenan addressed council at its Tuesday 26 April meeting, before their decision on whether to further progress plans for a fully refurbished, $28 million council office by 2020.
His latest attack comes after he described the stadium plan for Morrison Reserve in Mount Evelyn as underwhelming.
He accused the council of playing election-year politics and said the project was untimely and below the scale required.
In relation to the council office, Mr Heenan’s concern was a lack of consultation.
“I’m appalled (there is) no-one sitting in the (gallery) who knows anything about it … obviously it’s been a fairly good secret,” Mr Heenan told the council.
“The community has every right to know when a substantial amount of money is going to be spent … considering they are ratepayers.
“I’m appalled people hadn’t had the chance to find out about this … the fact that you’ve wasted money yet again.”
Mr Heenan also took issue with $117,000 being spent on a feasibility study, when he said similar items had been included in previous reports.
“I agree the building has got faults … but we’ve known about that for years; you didn’t need to spend another amount of money to tell us that yet again,” he said.
“I’m appalled this has just come up, the general public knows nothing about it.
“It’s yet another blight on council’s record of communicating with the community.”
The council respected Mr Heenan’s right to comment, but his address did draw some criticism from Cr Jim Child.
“For a past councillor, and twice mayor, to come into this chamber and criticise this council in that way is irresponsible,” Cr Child said.
“We’ve identified issues that have to be addressed and have to be addressed now.
“We are here as a responsible council, willing to make the hard decisions – hard decisions that have never been made by another council.”
Cr Fiona McAllister also raised similar concerns to Mr Heenan.
She questioned the consultation process, while opposing the motion and calling for a deferral.
“I fully accept we need to do something … but what I’m struggling with is the process that we’re being asked to follow … I guess it’s interesting that Mr Heenan came and spoke this evening,” Cr McAlister said.
“There are people who read our agendas every week … we’ve got an empty gallery tonight (over a decision) which is effectively approving an additional spending of $10 million.
“(Yet only) one person is in the gallery talking to us.”
The objections from Mr Heenan and Cr McAlister were in vain, though.
Mayor Jason Callanan led the case for the recommendation.
“Even before I came on council in 2012, this building had been undergoing a number of reviews and assessments … yet still nothing was done,” Cr Callanan said.
“During my time, we have considered various options … (but) didn’t come to fruition.
“Now that we’re aware of the issues, and which have been documented, we have a real opportunity to recreate a civic centre for the Yarra Ranges Shire that is fit for purpose.
“A space that will last for another 50 years.”
After the debate, councillors voted to endorse a complete redevelopment of the council’s Anderson Street offices, which are in a state of disrepair.
The councillors also voted to approve funding and borrowing to undertake the complete redevelopment, which would see the offices completely refurbished, with another two-level building constructed and old portable buildings removed.
