Manly Oval carpark plans scrapped due to ‘significant contract and financial risks’
THE controversial Manly Oval carpark plan has been abandoned, along with an intertwined bid to redevelop Whistler St into a cultural hub, due to “significant contract and financial risk”.
Manly
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NORTHERN Beaches Council meeting administrator Dick Persson said the development application (DA) for the Manly Oval carpark had been withdrawn from the Joint Regional Planning Panel.
In making his decision, he said there was “no doubt the work wasn’t good enough” on the carpark plans.
“I fear that the mayor and others on council on both sides of the fence were probably let down by that process,” he said.
In recommending the plans be scrapped, general manager Mark Ferguson cited independent audits completed by Ernst and Young and Value Network.
He also pointed to a “commercial in confidence” report prepared by the council which had “found that there is significant contract and financial risk to the council to proceed in its current form”.
Mr Persson said it was now time to “go back to the drawing board”.
“We have a view that it has not been appropriately advanced, so it is going to be undone at that point,” he said.
It follows the release of documents by the council at its July 7 meeting which said the tender decisions made in a closed-door meeting of the former Manly council could put the plans in jeopardy.
A review into then-Manly Council’s controversial project has revealed the Office of Local Government raised concerns about the April 12 meeting that saw protests in the street as police and council rangers guarded the door while the councillors inside gave their final approval.
The council is yet to release the reports as to why the plans were scrapped.
But those against the plans were yesterday celebrating.
“Finally, the truth has prevailed,” former Manly councillor Candy Bingham said.
Ms Bingham led the charge against the oval plans and said the backflip by the council was “real community power at its best”.
“The operations of the old Manly council are under serious question in relation to the major projects for which tenders had already been awarded,” she said.
Save Manly Oval Alliance president Jack Steggall said he was relieved.
“At last someone has listened to our concerns about the projects and actually considered the experts’ reports which we lodged objecting to the DA,” he said.
Former Manly mayor Jean Hay has long supported the plan and last night said: “I have always believed that the process that was being followed in regards to all our steps of the planning was done in the correct manner.
“I am very sorry to hear tonight that … these reports have come back that do not agree with some aspects of the way that this project has been processed.”
Mrs Hay said she had “always believed it was a wonderful project for Manly with great economic benefit”.
“It was extremely heartening to hear from both the administrator and general manager (on Tuesday night) that the Manly 2015 masterplan will not be abandoned and has been recognised as a visionary plan for the economic future of Manly.”
DEVELOPERS ARE TIGHT-LIPPED
PLANS to revitalise the Whistler St triangle as a cultural hub have been thrown into disarray after Northern Beaches Council backflipped on plans to build a carpark under Manly Oval.
On Tuesday night the council moved to terminate the development deeds for both projects.
Athas and Built Development had agreed to enter into a $37.5 million, 99-year lease on the Whistler St carpark and library sites.
And while it is unclear if any money had changed hands, a development application had not been lodged. However, concept plans were drafted and released after the council awarded tenders in April.
A spokeswoman for the developers of Whistler St did not respond to questions.
Abergeldie, which was awarded the tender for the oval carpark did not respond to questions.
Yesterday, the council’s general manager Mark Ferguson was deep in negotiations with developers on both projects. He would not comment on the financial penalties that may apply to breaking either contract.
“This decision is the result of an extensive review process and is in the best interest of the ratepayers,” Mr Ferguson said.
However, Mr Ferguson said he supported the sentiments behind the Manly 2015 masterplan.
THE STORY SO FAR:
May 2009: Plans were hatched to activate Manly’s laneways into Melbourne-style cosmopolitan hubs.
March 2009: Council announced winners of a design competition for the ‘triangle site’ in Whistler St.
November 2010: Council gives its first indication of plans, calling it Manly 2015. It includes a carpark under Manly Oval funded by Whistler St redevelopments.
September 2012: Council holds elections. Rumblings on Manly 2015 begin soon after.
April 2013: Concerns over the future of Manly’s Whistler St carpark site prompted some councillors to try and stop it being demolished. Initially Hugh Burns, Candy Bingham and Cathy Griffin voted against it.
June 2013: Candy Bingham hosts the first public meetings or concerned residents over the Manly Oval carpark.
February 2015: After five years of debate Manly Council decided the best way forward in a closed-door meeting.
April 2016: Residents were shut-out of yet another closed meeting where tenders were awarded.
May 2016: DA was completed and sent to the JRPP the day before council amalgamations.
May 19: Administrator Dick Persson ordered a review at the first Northern Beaches Council meeting in May.
July 7: Council releases information suggesting former Manly Council had breached the Local Government Act putting carpark plans in jeopardy
August 23, 2016: Manly Oval carpark and Whistler St redevelopment cancelled after review.
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