Elsie Adamo
Wattle Range Council held a community forum on Tuesday night to answer questions and take feedback on its proposed $9.2m administration office.
Held at the Millicent Civic and Arts Centre, more than 50 attended the interactive session which lasted almost two hours.
Council chief executive Ben Gower gave a presentation during the session outlining the main details of the project.
The new centre would provide for all office-based council staff who are currently working in three separate locations including the main office which was built in the 1930’s as a school and Mr Gower said was beyond renovation.
The majority of questions asked during the session were centred around costs, consultation and design.
While many public questions and responses indicated there was support for updated office facilities for staff, much time was spent discussing the site’s intended location on North Terrace.
When answering questions about the centre’s location, Mr Gower highlighted that it had already been a three-year process to decide on the current site and there had been many different opinions expressed during that time.
“The message is it is really hard to make decisions like these when you have got so many options and so many different views,” Mr Gower said.
“It is a very democratic process, but it can take a long time.”
Council staff and most elected members were present for the forum, with some taking the opportunity to answer questions and make comments.
The impact of inflation was brought up by community members, who were worried the lengthy process could mean higher building costs.
When responding, Mr Gower said that ultimately decisions on the project have been and would continue to be made by elected members.
Mr Gower said the plans for the centre have considered future organisational growth and should remain fit for purpose for the next 50 years.
During the presentation, Mr Gower offered to show community members the current council offices following the session and answer any further questions.
Following the meeting Mr Gower and Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll said they believed the forum had been successful.
The decision to proceed with the new service centre is expected to be made by the newly elected council in early next year.
