Finally, $20m Blackwood Hub included in Mitcham Council budget
Is now the right time to spend $20 million on a new community hub? Mitcham councillors were split, but have ultimately decided to press ahead with the spending.
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A long-awaited $20 million community hub in Blackwood will be developed, despite the State Government refusing a $5 million funding request.
The council – which is in about $22 million debt – has narrowly voted to include the major project in its 2020/21 budget.
The decision comes after the Government refused to chip in $5 million for the project because the council’s cash request did not fulfil the terms of the program under which it applied.
However, councillors are hopeful the Government will still come through with money now it has committed to build the project.
The Federal Government has committed $5 million to the hub.
The long-discussed project, set for Waite Street, would include a three-storey building comprising a new library and community centre.
The cost would be offset by the sale of other assets and a reduced spend on footpaths.
Cr Adriana Christopoulos, who voted against including the hub in the 2020/21 budget, said it was “ridiculous” and “the wrong time” to be asking ratepayers to fund a multi-million dollar project.
“I think the hills deserve a library, but a $20 million spend is excessive,” Cr Christopoulos said.
“They need to have what is currently there redeveloped. They could do a staged approach.
“Yes, you want to have an infrastructure spend (because of the coronavirus pandemic), but you’ve got a lot of people struggling with rates and rate relief.”
But Cr Jane Bange, who headed the push for its inclusion in the budget, said financial concerns were a “furphy”.
“It’s not going to push the rates up this year at all,” Cr Bange said.
“If we don’t do it soon, we’re going to have to start spending serious money on the existing library which is a waste of money.
“When you look at COVID, we’re not going to Bali any time soon so people are going to have to rely on local entertainment and facilities.
“Imagine if we have a wine bar in Blackwood, and that might start to happen as we start to rejuvenate the town.”
The final budget will be endorsed next month.