Thoughts on new design
An extraordinary design of iconic potential.
The curves make it a symbol of the true Eurobodalla landscape. I would wish for the vertical and horizontal radii to be prime numbers and then, it follows, she would be a structure of real beauty for many years to come.
Malcolm E Mason, retired mechanical engineer,
Mogood
Not happy
On November 11, I wrote to Eurobodalla Shire Council general manager Catherine Dale regarding the Mackay Park development (Bay Post/Moruya Examiner, November 15).
On December 1, I received a response. It seems the council’s “Frequently Asked Questions about the Mackay Park Precinct” document supposedly answers all questions the community may have.
If it doesn’t, there will probably be a page that vaguely fits the topic – and “stuff” the actual question. But what to do if there is no relevant page to refer to? Easy – don’t answer it.
I will again be writing to the GM asking:
- Apart from Otium, who provided the other two quotes for the development (a mandatory requirement of Council’s Code for Procurement)?
- Again, why were community submissions not sought on the concept plan (as RMS has done for the Batemans Bay Bridge)?
- Again, I seek your comments regarding whether the Principles of the Community Engagement Framework (CEF) have been met. In particular, I refer to the council’s letter to schools seeking support for grant funding, which did not include the concept plan with a 25m pool. “Did the participants get all the information they needed to provide meaningful input?” (CEF)
If not, why not?
Patricia Gardiner
Deua River Valley
Also not happy
All explained? Please!
I recently asked Eurobodalla Shire Council to explain apparent anomalies between costings in the annual financial statements for our existing three pool centres and figures being quoted for the capital and on-going costs that would be incurred if the 25 metre pool in the proposed Mackay Park development was extended to 50 metres.
The council’s Director of Corporate and Commercial Services has pointed out where I had misread the statements – the repairs and maintenance should have totalled $290,000 (not $229,000) and that the full replacement cost for the three pool centres is $14,548,000 (not $5,134,000).
Any misconceptions are regretted - I hadn’t realised the information was split between the categories of buildings, actual pools and plant and equipment. Perhaps I should have asked staff first, as I don’t think our councillors were aware of the true figures, as none of those approached was able to answer the questions.
Questions about the apparent high cost of $6.5 million to add an extra 25 metres to a pool or why the extra pool would cost more to operate than the maintenance costs of all three current centres remain unanswered.
The council’s $6.5 million figure assumes the building size – i.e. floor area, walls and roof - would have to be extended proportionally to accommodate a 50 metre pool and that the bigger pool would be divided by a fibreglass bulkhead. A sketch, prepared by a qualified professional shows very little impact on the building size is required; no bulkhead, plus room for spectators.
Bega MP Andrew Constance was correct in instructing council to review costings. Let’s insist the figures are made public and comments will be sought and given due consideration under his watchful eye before being put out to competitive tender for final project estimates.
Jeff de Jager
Coila
