‘It’s peanuts’: Norwood councillor wants to spend $100,000 on seven-foot grand piano

A fired-up councillor wants to spend $100,000 on a seven-foot grand piano for the Norwood Town Hall — calling it “peanuts” — to replace the existing six-foot one.

The Norwood Town Hall has a six-foot grand piano, but need a bigger one, some councillors say. Picture: Simon Cross

• Almost 700 Queensland Box spared the axe
• Scramble crossing proposed for The Parade

A fired-up Norwood, Payneham & St Peters councillor has vowed to push for a $100,000 seven-foot grand piano to be included in the council’s annual budget next year.

A move by councillors John Minney, Kevin Duke and Garry Knoblauch to include a piano in the 2019/2020 budget fell at the final hurdle on Wednesday night.

The piano would have replaced the existing six-foot piano at the Norwood Concert Hall.

An impassioned Cr Minney said $100,000 for a grand piano was “peanuts”.

“It would get people to flock here and be entertained by one of the best orchestras in the state,” Cr Minney said.

However, Cr Evonne Moore said the time was not right with the budget “under pressure”.

“No doubt Cr Minney will be back next year (to include it),” Cr Moore said.

Cr Sue Whitington said including $100,000 for a piano in the budget would have been “outrageous”.

“I can see the headlines,” Cr Whitington said. “The community would be outraged.

“I’m a great musical lover, but we have to be prudent. There are more necessary projects in the budget.”

A council report said the existing grand piano could have been sold with the proceeds shared between the orchestra and the council.

Meanwhile, NP&SP residents could receive a rate increase more than double last year.

Mayor Robert Bria told Eastern Courier Messenger the council was strongly considering a general rate increase of 1.9 per cent, up from 0.93 per cent last year.

The council’s draft budget includes $115,000 for design plans and to construct a scramble crossing at the corner of The Parade and George St and $232,000 on a footpath sweeping program on streets which have Queensland Box trees.

It also proposes the council spend $105,000 to host a stage of the 2020 Tour Down Under and $159,000 for a 22-seat community bus.

The council has set a surplus goal of $1.9 million.