Toowoomba Regional Council venue shut for repairs, questions raised over $879k disparity

A Toowoomba councillor has questioned a financial disparity worth $879,000 within the statements of a council-owned entity, as the TRC voted to shut the venue for repairs.

The Jondaryan Woolshed.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has temporarily shut a premier function and tourism facility to carry out urgent reconstruction works, as questions were raised over what nearly $880,000 in ratepayer money intended for repairs was actually spent on.

Councillors voted at Wednesday’s to shut the heritage-listed Jondaryan Woolshed, a wholly-owned entity of the TRC that was shut for much of 2020, to conduct “detailed building and safety assessment” in order to bring it up to a safe operational standard.

The works, once determined after the TRC meets with the woolshed board, will be carried out by the council’s own team rather than by the organisation.

But the council discussion quickly turned to finances, after Cr Rebecca Vonhoff raised an $879,000 disparity between funds given by the council to the woolshed’s board since 2013 for repairs and maintenance and the amount actually listed in financial statements.

“We have contributed $125,000 per annum towards repairs, totalling about $1 million,” she said.

“Going through the statements, there are three figures relating to repairs and maintenance, bringing us to about $120,000.”

Cr Vonhoff was also concerned about revelations the council’s operating agreement with the woolshed had expired at a certain point, something councillors were not aware of.

During question time, finance and business strategy general manager Ann-Marie Johnston also revealed the council was in discussions with the Crime and Corruption Commission about an allegation being made relating to the board.

Following Cr Vonhoff’s concerns, the councillors changed the motion to look into the $879,000 disparity, write to the Queensland Audit Office about the matter as well as the expired operating agreement, and be notified of any disclosable outcomes from the CCC investigation.

Speaking after the meeting, Cr Vonhoff said she was not alleging any wrongdoing, but rather ensuring ratepayers understood fully where their money was going.

“I pore over those financial statements because it’s public money — to go back through the statements and not be able to say where the repair money has gone, just that question needs to be answered,” she said.

“There is no allegation of wrongdoing, it is an issue that we are custodians of the public purse.

“We have, over the years, put millions of dollars of public money into that venue and yet it is closed to the public right now.”

Finance and business strategy chair Cr Geoff McDonald said the motion was an opportunity to understand the true community value of the venue and the facilities.

“This is probably just council reaffirming that it’s important we have the workplace health and safety sorted before we move to the next stage of operations,” he said.

“I think there are some green shoots here to say we’re moving through COVID.

“There are 28 bookings at the venue between now and June next year, so I’m keen to honour those commitments.”

Cr McDonald also said annual audits by the QAO had not revealed any issues with the woolshed’s financial records.