Mayor ‘embarrassed’ as council commits $100K to grand piano at the Norwood Concert Hall
A new $100,000 grand piano for Norwood Concert Hall will go ahead — despite the local mayor’s push to scrap the plan.
- Existing piano hardly used, mayor says
- Grand piano back in the budget
- Push for $100K grand piano fails
A last-minute push to remove $100,000 from Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council’s annual budget for a grand piano has failed.
Mayor Robert Bria’s motion calling on elected members to reconsider the allocation for a piano at Norwood Concert Hall was defeated 10-3 on Monday night.
The council had committed up to $100,000 in its budget on June 12.
That decision came nearly two months after the council “overwhelmingly rejected” a proposal from Cr John Minney on April 17 to fund the piano.
Mr Bria said the latest decision was “extremely disappointing and embarrassing”.
“I think the community will be appalled and feel very let down by the council,” Mr Bria said.
“The original decision deserved to be revisited. However, the majority of councillors felt the piano was a priority.”
Several councillors — including Evonne Moore who initially said it was not the right time for a new piano with the budget “under pressure” — had changed their minds after the April decision.
“I do not understand the dramatic change of heart by the council on this issue,” Mr Bria said. “I can’t explain that.”
Cr Connie Granozio she was “so angry” about the decision.
“Unless we’re bringing Elton John to the hall, it won’t bring anybody else there,” Cr Granozio said.
Cr Carlo Dottore told the meeting the council should ignore the “obscure” request by the Adelaide Summer Orchestra to commit the funds to the budget.
“We’ve had one application for a band who plays here once a year,” Cr Dottore said.
“There are many other (council) issues … that could do with an injection of funds.”
He said he could empathise with sections of the community who were angry about the council’s decision to commit up to $100,000 in the 2019/20 budget for a piano.
“I can quite understand the angst … the people thought it was a form of deception adding it in (the budget) so late,” Cr Dottore said.
“It stirred a lot of people up. The community was not expecting it.
“We have a very good working piano ... it’s not a good way of spending our money.”
Cr Sue Whitington said members of the community “vehemently” opposed the proposed purchase.
“There is no compelling reason to purchase a piano at this time,” Cr Whitington said.
“I can’t find any other sound reason to support such a purchase.”
However, Cr John Callisto felt residents would “understand the purchase”.
“I have not heard of any hard criticism,” Cr Callisto said.
“We have a great location … therefore we need to provide the best (facilities) we possibly can.
“We will attract new performances (to the hall).”
Cr Kevin Duke said the council needed to support the arts just like it did local sporting clubs.
“We spend good money on sporting facilities,” Cr Duke said.
“This is something that is for a group of people in the performing arts.
“We should be providing something decent for these people as well.”
Cr Fay Patterson said there was no “good reason for revisiting the decision”.