By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Local musicians Wayne Jury, Tim Neal and Stephen McEwan have thrown their weight behind a controversially proposed performance space for an Ocean Grove community park.
The trio have joined a Facebook page called Support The Ocean Grove Performance Space, established to counter a group of park association members opposing the $1 million facility.
Ocean Grove Park Association committee agreed last week to hold a special general meeting over the proposal.
Association member Christine Brooks said she requested the meeting with the support of 26 other signatories, including eight foundation members.
Ms Brooks said the meeting would consider a series of proposed amendments to association rules, restricting decisions to less than $20,000.
“If these resolutions are passed, the proposed multi-purpose building will not go ahead,” Ms Brooks said.
“The committee will not be able to make a decision of such financial magnitude again unless it has been endorsed in-principle by special resolution at a members meeting.”
Ms Brooks said the date of the special general meeting had yet to be set because the association rules prescribed a 21-day notice.
Members were concerned the performance space would leave the association with a heavy financial burden, she said.
But other association members have come out in support of the performance space.
Colleen Moloney posted on the Facebook support page: “I cannot believe that such a small vocal negative group of people can be so rude and complain about having a great community asset built for the whole community to enjoy”.
Shamus McEwan said: “So is it getting built? Haters are always gonna hate so build it anyway”.
Ward councillor Jan Farrell, also a support page member, said the “awful behaviour of some of the objectors” was disappointing.
“Whatever your viewpoint, there’s always a place for common courtesy, especially in Ocean Grove.”
