Ratepayers urge Stonnington Council to shelve $32 million Prahran Town Hall upgrade
Ratepayers are fuming over plans to progress with a $32 million redevelopment of an inner city council’s town hall while it bumps up rates despite the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Inner East
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An inner city council wants to spend more than $30 million upgrading one of its prized buildings while increasing rates for struggling businesses and ratepayers.
Ratepayers have pleaded with Stonnington Council to delay its planned overhaul of Prahran Town Hall and reallocate the funding towards community support following the coronavirus outbreak.
The grand plan for the hall involves a glass roof, upgrading the Prahran Library and creating new function rooms and event spaces.
The council has already spent $2.5 million on preparations and has allocated $7.01 million in its 2020-21 budget to kick off the project early next year.
But speakers at the council’s budget submissions hearing on Monday, August 17, were critical of the project and deemed it unnecessary while the community recovers from the virus outbreak.
Beverley Lines said the project was “reckless overspending in these times”.
“This enormous proposed cost would seem most unlikely to deliver any benefit to ratepayers to justify such a spend,” she said.
Ratepayers Stonnington president Dean Hurlston said there was “no demonstrated need” for the project as library services rated the highest in the council’s 2020 community satisfaction survey.
“Why would council commit to another project or venue that will cost us money not only to develop but add increased financial burden on the council operating costs?” he said.
“This project should be abandoned or scaled back, and the council should live within its means.”
The council plans to temporarily move the library and a customer service centre from the town hall to empty tenancies in Prahran Square by the end of the year.
The $70 million square, which opened in December, was only tipped to cost $40 million in 2015.
But the total project cost blew out by $30 million following the development of detailed plans and additional works.
Council spokesman Jim Carden said Prahran Town Hall was an important heritage asset and it was “keen to ensure we do not let it fall into disrepair”.
“However, council recognises there may an opportunity during this pandemic to adjust the timing of the project’s delivery, and this is very much an issue council will be deliberating over the coming fortnight.”
The council plans to increase rates by 2 per cent in line with the State Government’s rate cap, despite an expected $22.19 million surplus.
It has offered to refund the 2 per cent increase to those who pay upfront. The budget will be adoped on August 31 if passed.
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