Money reinstated for public square project after council backflip
A controversial decision to snatch money away from the Balmain public square project to fund a cost blowout in the restoration of the Dawn Fraser pool has been overturned.
Inner West
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A CONTROVERSIAL decision to snatch money away from the Balmain public square project to fund a cost blowout in the restoration of the Dawn Fraser pool has been overturned.
Inner West Council previously backed a proposal by Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne to transfer $1.3 million set aside for the demolition of the Telstra exchange building to plug a blowout in the restoration of the pool from $2.2 million to about $5 million.
Last Tuesday, Labor was outnumbered in its opposition to a rescission motion by the Greens and independent Cr John Stamolis who also successfully requested a full report on the pool upgrade including an explanation of why the costs have more than doubled and an assessment on which works are urgent.
The majority of councillors also reinstated their support for demolition of the exchange building to make way for a public square as well as the pool refurbishment.
Cr Stamolis said it shouldn’t have been a choice between the two projects.
“It was a win for good financial management and accountability and not knocking a project on the head when it was in its final stages,” Cr Stamolis said.
“Darcy Byrne had the opportunity to present the financial detail and documents to refute the rescission motion but he didn’t.”
Cr Bryne previously told the Courier the $1.3 million was urgently needed to rebuild the foundations of “our most loved heritage asset” to ensure it stayed open for another 136 years.
“What Cr Stamolis and the Greens would prefer is that we pretend the council can be run by a magic pudding philosophy in which you never have to make any tough choices and savings to fund your priorities.”
A blowout in the public square project from $1.3 million to $1.6 million is set to be funded by cuts to main street improvements in Balmain and the Dulwich Hill station masterplan.
Balmain Association member Fergus Fricke said a petition in support of the public square, which would restore the view to the historic post office, attracted 1350 signatures.
“I have not popped open a bottle of champagne yet,” Mr Fricke said.
“I understand from Telstra that further matters must be discussed with Council before the demolition of the exchange is started.
“As far as I am concerned that discussion can’t happen soon enough but, as a former swimmer at the Dawn Fraser Pool for many years, I can also appreciate the concerns of current swimmers about their continuing use of the pool.
“However some money has already been allocated to repair Dawn and it seems possible that the repairs and upgrades that need to be done could be addressed over a few years. I hope so.”
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