Merrylands: new Cumberland Council centre draws opposition
A Cumberland Council customer service centre and mayor’s office for the Merrylands town centre has been slammed as a ‘waste of ratepayers’ money’. But, the mayor insists the new shopfront is necessary and cost-effective.
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Cumberland Council has forked out $44,000 on a new customer service centre and mayor’s office in Merrylands drawing the ire of some councillors who have declared it a “waste of ratepayers’ money”.
The council’s works and infrastructure director Peter Fitzgerald said a decision was made to shift the Memorial Ave administration centre to the shopfront in April because “the current coronavirus issue was escalating at a rate that we weren’t comfortable with”.
However, the new centre at shop 1/205 Merrylands Rd only fits three people at the counter if social distancing rules are followed.
The council spent $28,000 to fit out the shop and estimates it will cost $16,000 to continue operating each year.
Funds spent on the premises — which have a picture of Mayor Steve Christou at the entrance — have come under fire at a time when the council cut $5 million on staff and delayed the $8 million Guildford pool upgrade until Wentworthville pools upgrade was completed.
The council said upgrades to Guildford pool would be considered in the coming months and it had not committed to a timeframe for delivering this project.
Cumberland Labor councillor Glenn Elmore’s bid to close the centre was defeated at last week’s council meeting when he questioned why larger venues such as the Holroyd Centre were not used.
“Residents have contacted me concerned that council is wasting its money and told me council should be more responsible with their money,’’ he said.
“When council has to tell ratepayers there’s going to be huge increase in rates in the coming 12 months or so they’re going to look back and they’re going to say ‘Council is wasting our money on putting up buildings everywhere, they’re not using their money efficiently’.
“People are outraged what council is doing with their rates.’’
Cr Ola Hamed blasted the move for the new shopfront a waste of ratepayers’ money.
“What we’ve done ultimately is substitute a very large customer service counter ... for a very small customer service counter.”
But Councillor Paul Garrard defended the centre and accused the Labor councillors of targeting Cr Christou, who sensationally quite the party to join Our Local Community when he was elected mayor in September.
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“What we’re seeing tonight, again, is the Johnny-come-latelys over there in the Labor Party playing the man and not the ball. To quote the Eagles from 40 years ago, there’s a new boy in town and quite frankly you need to get used to it.
“What is happening at the moment in providing customer service centres is the way of the future.’’
Cr Christou dismissed suggestions spending funds on the new centre was in bad taste during the coronavirus crisis and defended the $44,000 price tag.
“That’s a minimal amount to service our community,’’ he said.
“The Holroyd Centre would have cost more.’’
He said the Memorial Ave centre would reopen depending on restrictions easing and more service centres would be rolled out across the council wards.
A new council headquarters at Granville is also being explored.