Mitcham plains not properly represented in Blackwood Hub debate, councillors say
The inclusion of the $20 million Blackwood Hub in Mitcham Council’s budget – which will mean the sale of a popular nursery – was unfair because councillors were missing from the vote, elected members have claimed.
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The $20 million Blackwood Hub – and planned sale of a popular nursery on council land – was unfairly approved, Mitcham councillors claim.
They say the resignations of Stephen Fisher and Jasmine Berry – who represented the Gault Ward on the Mitcham plains – left the area under-represented during budget deliberations.
By-elections have been called for the positions but they are currently unfilled, leaving the council two elected members short.
The hub – which is set to replace Blackwood’s library and community centre – made it into the 2020/21 budget by just one vote.
In order to help fund it, the council plans to sell the site of the popular family-owned Karkoo Nursery on Main Road, which has had an outpouring of community support since the proposal was announced.
Cr Andrew Tilley said he was not opposed to a new Blackwood Hub, but he had concerns about the cost and the process that resulted in its approval.
“It’s hardly a democratic representation of the whole of Mitcham ratepayers,” Cr Tilley said.
“I’ve asked about this and the CEO’s response has been as long as there’s a quorum, we’ve got to pass the budget.
“That might be the legal position, but whether it’s fair and correct from a representative point of view is another question.”
Cr Adriana Christopoulos said the Blackwood Hub should be removed from the budget until the council had full representation and the state’s economic outlook was clearer.
“Given there’s a bit of a hills dominance in the chamber at the moment, it’s unfair to be putting up significant budget items like the hub without complete representation for the whole of Mitcham,” Cr Christopoulos said.
Cr Jane Bange denied any hills bias and said former Gault councillor Jasmine Berry supported including the hub in public consultation.
“Gault did express its voice when (the budget) went out to consultation and it came back with 77 people for and 17 against,” Cr Bange said.
“It was overwhelmingly supported by the community.”
Councillors will vote on the final budget on Tuesday night.