Tom Sharp's
Blog
04-03-2021
SHARP COMMENT 13 - The Mayor, Councillor Christensen, along with Councillors West, McConnell, and Enright, has voted down a motion proposed by Cr Swanborough
The Mayor, Councillor Christensen, along with Councillors West, McConnell, and Enright, has voted down a motion proposed by Cr Swanborough at a recent Council Ordinary Meeting to release a set of council plans to the public with regard to the Beaudesert Town Revitalisation Project.
Cr Swanborough’s motion centred on a funding increase for the proposed new town library from $8.1 million up to as much as $13.5 million; the additional money is to come from a grant application that requires 50 per cent of the total funding to come from ratepayers.
It was revealed at the meeting that the new library is to now join the council administration building, but what work is to be performed on the existing council administration building is unknown to the public, along with the total cost.
By the tone of the meeting, it would appear these secret plans are quite revealing and potentially lift the lid on what this whole project is actually about.
The $22 million plus spend announced to date already suggests the project has nothing to do with the town’s revitalisation.
The curious addition to this farce is the physical linking of the new library to the council administration building.
It was additionally revealed that there will be works conducted on the administration building but to what extent we do not know.
Is the ‘Taj Mahal’ getting a makeover at ratepayers’ expense? Is this to accommodate more bureaucrats and more consultants?
How much is the planned ‘Taj Mahal’ facelift going to ultimately cost us - $30 million, $40 million, $50 million or more?
It is now becoming clear that this project is not about the town or its people; it is all about an enormous spend by council on themselves.
Beaudesert is a town that is suffering 20 per cent youth unemployment and all the social issues that come with such a crisis.
The people of this town are working hard to develop a PCYC centre in an attempt to curb the many increasing youth issues the town is now facing on a daily basis.
Their efforts are finding no support from the council.
Additionally, the council is going against current and the explicit wishes of the people and will now appeal the heritage listing of the Beaudesert pig and calf saleyards at cost of $50,000 to the ratepayer.
If you follow the social media platforms in Beaudesert you will also quickly realise the people of Beaudesert do not want a new library and know full well the existing library is more than adequate and in the perfect location.
The global trend is to turn towns such as Beaudesert into a virtual library, bringing cafés and local clubs to life as multiple community hubs and improving a town’s overall commerciality. How backward does this make Scenic Rim Council?
The priority and needs of the people are simply being ignored and how this council gets away with it is an abomination.
There should be a full, independent investigation into this organisation starting immediately. If there is proven major misrepresentation of the people and their monies, there is a strong argument to be made for this council to be dismissed and an administrator put in place, suspending projects such as the Beaudesert Town Centre Revitalisation Project.
Cr Swanborough’s motion centred on a funding increase for the proposed new town library from $8.1 million up to as much as $13.5 million; the additional money is to come from a grant application that requires 50 per cent of the total funding to come from ratepayers.
It was revealed at the meeting that the new library is to now join the council administration building, but what work is to be performed on the existing council administration building is unknown to the public, along with the total cost.
By the tone of the meeting, it would appear these secret plans are quite revealing and potentially lift the lid on what this whole project is actually about.
The $22 million plus spend announced to date already suggests the project has nothing to do with the town’s revitalisation.
The curious addition to this farce is the physical linking of the new library to the council administration building.
It was additionally revealed that there will be works conducted on the administration building but to what extent we do not know.
Is the ‘Taj Mahal’ getting a makeover at ratepayers’ expense? Is this to accommodate more bureaucrats and more consultants?
How much is the planned ‘Taj Mahal’ facelift going to ultimately cost us - $30 million, $40 million, $50 million or more?
It is now becoming clear that this project is not about the town or its people; it is all about an enormous spend by council on themselves.
Beaudesert is a town that is suffering 20 per cent youth unemployment and all the social issues that come with such a crisis.
The people of this town are working hard to develop a PCYC centre in an attempt to curb the many increasing youth issues the town is now facing on a daily basis.
Their efforts are finding no support from the council.
Additionally, the council is going against current and the explicit wishes of the people and will now appeal the heritage listing of the Beaudesert pig and calf saleyards at cost of $50,000 to the ratepayer.
If you follow the social media platforms in Beaudesert you will also quickly realise the people of Beaudesert do not want a new library and know full well the existing library is more than adequate and in the perfect location.
The global trend is to turn towns such as Beaudesert into a virtual library, bringing cafés and local clubs to life as multiple community hubs and improving a town’s overall commerciality. How backward does this make Scenic Rim Council?
The priority and needs of the people are simply being ignored and how this council gets away with it is an abomination.
There should be a full, independent investigation into this organisation starting immediately. If there is proven major misrepresentation of the people and their monies, there is a strong argument to be made for this council to be dismissed and an administrator put in place, suspending projects such as the Beaudesert Town Centre Revitalisation Project.