LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PROS HAVE GREATER EMPATHY

BRIAN Sherwell’s insightful remarks in Your Say (GA 29/9) should be carefully considered and taken on board by those in authority in local councils, corporations and agencies.

It seems to be their practice when significant projects come up to shun local construction professionals in favour of high-flyers from Melbourne or interstate. It would be interesting to know how many of these people view Geelong as just another wayside stop in their careers, and have little knowledge of or empathy with the community they serve.

Geelong architects, engineers, building surveyors and the like may be reluctant to make waves for fear of causing offence and losing work. They should get some backbone and act together to convince these bodies of the benefits of employing consultants committed to this community. The results will almost certainly be cheaper, simpler and less expensive.

The present Royal Geelong Yacht Club was designed by local architect Richard J Gibson in no-nonsense fashion in the 1950s (I was privileged to construct the model). The proposed new building as pictured is the antithesis of yachting. Whereas yachts meld functional, purposeful design with style and beauty, the new building is a mishmash of disjointed elements, especially the concatenation of roof shapes and the consequential multitude of connections, the almost certain failure of which will ensure roof leaks in perpetuity. Peter Mackinlay, Retired architect, Geelong