Bundaberg Council agrees to Wintergarden Theatre report in light of $130k generator ‘rumours’
A full costs report will be released next month in light of public concerns raised at a council meeting of a $130,000 cost blowout for a generator for major refurbishment works at the Bundaberg CBD.
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Bundaberg council will provide detailed costings of the $5m refurbishment of the historic Wintergarden Theatre, in response to public concerns raised at a council meeting of cost overruns including fees in excess of $100,000 for a generator to power part of the Bundaberg CBD.
A key aspect of council’s civic and cultural precinct project, the Old Wintergarden Theatre was purchased by council for $1.2m in September 2019, using CEO Steve Johnston’s delegated powers.
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A $5m tender for the fit-out of the theatre into a revitalised community hub, forming part of the envisaged civic and cultural precinct, was awarded to Bundaberg firm Murchie Constructions in April 2023.
Councillor Greg Barnes tabled a motion at the Tuesday, November 28 council meeting requesting a report detailing a cost breakdown of the various aspects and stages of the project, including funds related to the hire of any generator equipment required to complete the project.
Mr Barnes said the report was necessary to address ratepayer concerns that council allocated “significant funding” in the order of $130,000 to hire and operate a large commercial generator to provide power to all or part of the Bundaberg CBD as required by works for the Wintergarden project.
In addition to members of the Bargara Progress Association, Mr Barnes told the council meeting he had received “unusually consistent” information from people throughout the region alleging the monthly generator hire fees were an unforeseen cost for the project.
This publication has seen a text message from a source familiar with the project stating that council is paying fees of $130,000 to Ergon Energy for the generator.
“As far as I’m aware there has never been a request come back to ask for that $130k overrun to be approved,” Mr Barnes said.
“I think it’s about time that this council, when these rumours start to spread, be open and transparent, get them on the floor of council and either acknowledge or rebut them.
“We can confirm it or rebut it, I don’t care either way, all I want is some transparency on this.”
Mayor Jack Dempsey said while he “believed” that the $130,000 generator hire fee was “not true”, he would check the costings and provide them to Mr Barnes in writing.
Councillors Mary Mitchell and Jason Bartels questioned the need for a council resolution for the project costings, given councillors had received updates on the project as recently as one week ago.
Mr Bartels said the $130,000 figure was an “operational cost” that was included in the budget approved by council, and said “the project is still on budget”.
In reply, Mr Barnes said the large volume of concerns that had been raised with him regarding the rumoured $130,000 cost overruns meant a public statement detailing the costings was necessary.
The motion was approved with only councillor Vince Habermann opposing.
Ratepayer Karen Tulk said it was “surprising” that council had voted in favour of providing costings for the Wintergarden project when they had refused to do so for the Aquatic Centre project.
In April, 2023 council denied Ms Tulk’s request for a costs breakdown on the redevelopment of Anzac Park and the Regional Aquatic Centre, saying the information was not publicly available and she would need to submit a Right to Information application.
A response to an RTI request submitted by NewsMail revealed council knew the Regional Aquatic Centre would cost ratepayers $71.9m, significantly more than the original costing, eight months before it informed the public.
Ms Tulk said statements by Mr Bartels and Ms Mitchell that councillors had received briefings on the project showed a lack of understanding of the need for public transparency in how ratepayers’ funds are being used.
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“I think some of those councillors just don’t quite understand the transparency part of it,” Ms Tulk said.
“That’s them, not us; we weren’t provided with (the costings).
“They just can’t see that ratepayers have a right to see where their money is going.”
The Wintergarden report will be provided at the next council meeting on December 19.
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