By NOEL MURPHY
Geelong’s council has put Old Geelong Gaol on the market, in line with a controversial report last year by former premier Jeff Kennett’s consultancy, CT Management.
Council voted on Tuesday to seek expressions of interest from suitable applicants as well as community submissions on the gaol’s future.
The CT Management report recommended selling $11 million of City Hall assets including the gaol, Queen’s Park, Osborne House, Elcho Park and Balyang par-three golf course.
Former deputy mayor Anthony Aitken criticised council for contracting CT Management without a quotation process or competitive tendering.
The Old Geelong Gaol, which council bought in 1994 with a $360,000 interest-free government loan, could sell for several million dollars.
Geelong Rotary sub-leases the gaol to numerous tenants including a disability support service and a ghost tour company.
A report to council said the gaol’s maintenance costs averaged $30,700 a year while rent income averaged $35,700.
Completing a full maintenance backlog and anticipated compliance expenses would conservatively cost $1.56 million, the report said.
Rotary wrote to the Independent highlighting its cut-rate gaol leases for not-for-profit bodies including St Laurence Community Services, Diversitat and Barwon Health.
Rotary also used the gaol to provide training for Gordon Institute of TAFE hospitality students, cheap parking for health workers, primary and secondary student programs and temporary accommodation for asylum-seekers.
The gaol attracted 10,000 visitors a year and generated $1.5 million during Rotary’s tenure, which was returned to community projects.
Australian Services Union (ASU) has raised concerns about the community assets sell-off, including the gaol.
The ASU warned of “detrimental effects” on some council workers and “the community as a whole”.
“Selling off council assets, including the possible sale of golf courses and historic council buildings, could lead to job losses,” ASU assistant secretary Richard Duffy told the Independent.
“The main concern is that if assets are sold or jobs are contracted out, new enterprises could end up hiring people who do not contribute or live in the Geelong region at a lower wage rate, impacting the quality of services delivered while locals suffer.”
