NewsMail submits RTI over Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre costs

The push for clarity and transparency over the costs of Bundaberg Regional Council’s controversial new pool, rumoured to have blown out to more than $70m, continues amid concern on the lack of details available.

The push for clarity and transparency over the costs of Bundaberg Regional Council’s controversial new pool, rumoured to have blown out to more than $70m, continues amid concern on the lack of details available from the council and CEO Steve Johnston.

New answers are being sought as frustrations continue over what is being called a lack of transparency around the cost of building Bundaberg’s new pool, rumoured to have blown out by millions of dollars.

Earlier this month the NewsMail reported on a Bundaberg ratepayers whose efforts to find out more on multimillion-dollar capital works projects stalled at a bureaucratic dead end.

Karen Tulk emailed the Bundaberg Council CEO in 2022, asking for line items on the new Regional Aquatic Centre, among others as rumours circulated budgets had already blown past the set $70 million.

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“I emailed a request to the CEO to provide me with “the expenditure amounts in the 22/23 budget for the line items in this financial year and forward years for the development of the aquatic centre, demolition of Anzac Pool and redevelopment of Anzac Park,” she said.

Decision making around the demolition of the Anzac Memorial Pool and construction (and cost) of building its replacement has been questioned repeatedly by members of the community and some councillors.

Mrs Tulk was told this information was not available to the public and she would have to submit a Right to Information to the council.

“While council is required to publish its annual budget documentation, the information you seek is about specific projects and line items not contained within this or other published documents for release,” she was told.

Mrs Tulk said she was “insulted” by the Council’s response.

“By not providing any more budget information than they legally have to, does that mean the Bundaberg Regional Council ratepayers have to resort to a formal RTI application process to find out where and how their money is being specifically spent?” she said.

“I find this an appalling situation and a slap in the face for residents.”

On Wednesday a council spokeswoman said documents outlined by Councillor Bill Trevor which reportedly carried the information being were available and published as part of the council’s meeting agendas.

A review of the available documents did not locate the information being sought by Ms Tulk.

On Monday NewsCorp and the NewsMail submitted its own RTI application for these details.

The masthead is requesting not only the 2022-23 budget for the line items in the same financial year and across following decade for the development of the Regional Aquatic Centre, demolition of Anzac Pool and redevelopment of Anzac Park along with all capital works projects, but any feasibility reports into the work too.

Originally published as NewsMail submits RTI over Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre costs