Council’s precinct plan to cost $80m

Alex de Vos
Surf Coast Shire will spend up to $80 million on new offices and a controversial civic precinct at Torquay, according to a councillor.
Joe Remenyi, an economist who has worked with the United Nations and World Bank, told the Independent he was not convinced the plan was “the best way forward”.
A report to council said the precinct would cost about $40 million but Cr Remenyi expected the final bill to be double. Councillors voted 6-3 in favour of the project at a meeting last week.
Cr Remenyi, who voted against the plan, said his “number-one concern” was whether it represented value for money for ratepayers.
The precinct, at the northern entry to Torquay, would house new shire offices and sport facilities including soccer, football and netball ovals.
Cr Remenyi said the shire needed the facilities but he was concerned about the cost.
“Council has outgrown the portables and is in desperate need of office space. There is no question that the sporting, educational and cultural facilities are absolutely essential for Torquay and Jan Juc’s future growth,” he said.
“But the cost is quite high.”
Cr Remenjyi urged council to consider “other options”.
“Council should do an opportunity-cost analysis of the location and co-location of the civic facilities,” he said.
“I’m not convinced co-location is the best idea. I think we can use the assets we’ve got more effectively and at a lower cost.”
Surf Coast Community and Ratepayers Association’s Lyn Smith said she was horrified about the cost.
“It’s shocking,” she said.
“We really don’t know how they’re going to cover the costs.
“The general feeling is they should stay where they are and extend their existing building.”
Cr Remenyi said the shire’s priority was construction of the sports ovals.
Federal Government has announced it will contribute $4 million to the complex.
The Independent revealed last year the shire would have to borrow $16.5 million for the offices. Council had already agreed to buy the site adjacent to Surf Coast Highway.
The ratepayers’ association feared a repeat of 2002 when State Government ordered a commission of inquiry into the shire’s finances after debts hit $14 million.
But Surf Coast Shire chief executive officer Mark Davies said last year council was “confident” it could pay back the $16.5 million on time.
“The extended vendor terms and staged payments offered have meant council is confident it can purchase the land within the budget it has developed for the project,” Mr Davies said.