Council to spend another $345,000 on $10.7m Frankston Yacht Club
MORE ratepayers’ money will be tipped into the troubled $10.7m Frankston Yacht Club project — but it won’t be used to finish off the upstairs restaurant, which has still failed to attract an operator.
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MORE ratepayers’ money will be tipped into the troubled Frankston Yacht Club project.
Councillors made the decision during a closed-door meeting, with mayor Brian Cunial later declining to reveal the figure.
However, Leader understands about $345,000 will be spent on modifications including alterations to windows on the lower level.
However, money will not be spent on the upper level, which has failed to attract a restaurant operator, despite the building being completed in 2016, due largely to its lack of air conditioning and incomplete flooring and ceiling.
Leader reported in August that a real estate agent acting for council had told councillors the building had been left “too bare” internally — causing operators to baulk at fitout costs.
The agent is understood to have told councillors there was consequently “no commercial interest” from restaurateurs.
An auditor’s report found the $10.7 million yacht club has been hampered by multiple project changes and the lead consultant not being contracted to do anything other than the concept drawings.
In a statement to Leader, Cr Cunial said council wanted keen to ensure the commercial tenancies at the yacht club were filled as soon as possible.
“An interim tenant will occupy the ground floor cafe area over the summer months,” he said.
“Given the current basic structure of the facility, council will undertake a small amount of additional work to give prospective tenants a greater level of surety around access to and within the space they may wish to occupy.”
City of Frankston Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association vice-president Darrel Taylor said council should be more transparent about why the additional money was being spent.
“It’s a lot of money,” he said.