Western Downs residents outraged as $2.8 million wasted on MyALL 107 cultural centre redevelopment flop

“We’re screaming just to get mowing done”: Western Downs residents have been left angered after almost $3 million was lost to the MyALL 107 redevelopment, with many questioning why serious structural issues weren’t uncovered sooner.

Western Downs residents have been left angered after $2.8 million was lost to the MyALL 107 redevelopment in Dalby while other towns are “screaming” for services.

A stop work order was issued on the $14 million redevelopment in mid-December after the structural integrity of the building and safety of the worksite were called into question after construction had started.

A report found significant failings in the building‘s core foundations, walls, and roofing.

Jandowae resident Warren Kearney said many residents outside Dalby were upset by the amount of money being spent of a single project even before millions of dollars went down the drain.

Mr Kearney, who worked in the building many years ago as an announcer at 4DDD Community Radio, said ratepayers’ hard-earned cash had previously been spent on upgrading the cinema, repainting the art gallery and doing up the front entrance of the MyALL 107 building.

“During planning there would have had to have been some sort of engineering report done. Something must have come up somewhere that there was a problem,” he said.

“We coped a 15 per cent rate increase in Jandowae - Dalby’s rates only went up by 4.5 per cent - yet most of us would never walk into that building. And they’ve lost an asset in the end.

“And here we are screaming for things all the time. We’re screaming just to get mowing done.”

Residents took to social media to condemn the shock development, saying it was a “disgrace” and “waste of money”.

A Western Downs Regional Council spokeswoman said “it was not possible for the earlier engineering assessment to have identified the extent of the structural issues hiding within the walls and the roofing of the building, until the lining had been stripped away”.

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said he would support the council’s new project within the original guidelines.

Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh said the cost of the project to date had set council back $2.8 million, which included the cost of the demolition.

He said some money spent on designs could be used going forward.

Cr McVeigh said while the setback is disappointing it could be a blessing in disguise.

“I know everyone was extremely excited about what that facility was going to look like, but at the end of the day if we only have a life of 12 years left within the integrity of the building, and now don’t have up to date confidence in that building, the best decision is to knock it down and start designing something the community will really embrace.

“Let’s make sure we build something that our community will get a tremendous advantage out of and also bring economic growth and capacity for our tourism industry in the region.”

Cr McVeigh said the preference is to build a brand new cultural centre to house the art gallery, cinema, meeting places, and library.

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud told News Corp he would “support the council within the original guidelines”, saying Cr McVeigh has assured him the new project would “fit within the same price range”.

“It was disappointing to get the call given the amount of progress, but so long as the council acts swiftly it’ll be a matter of months that are lost,” he said.

The original $7 million in funding remains on the table, none of which has been spent prior to the demolition.

Mr Littleproud said the agreement was that the council would use their own funds first, which also totalled $7 million.

When questioned on whether the council would be able to stick to the $14 million budget, Cr McVeigh said “that‘s probably something I can’t answer at the moment”.

“Sometimes it is cheaper to build from scratch, but in the climate we’re in now that’s very hard to predict with costs escalating so quickly.”

Originally published as Western Downs residents outraged as $2.8 million wasted on MyALL 107 cultural centre redevelopment flop