Destination still unknown
Council peppered with questions
COMMUNITY questions over Destination Queenscliff funding are continuing, with the Borough of Queenscliffe bombarded with queries regarding the project during public question time at Thursday’s meeting.
In August, Bellarine MP Lisa Neville revealed $2.4 million of Destination Queenscliff state funding would instead be directed to the development of the Queenscliff Community Hub, which will see improvements to library and community facilities as well as reconstruction of the historical society.
It followed an intense trader-led campaign against aspects of the Destination Queenscliff project, which some felt would directly impact local business.
In September, the State Government announced a further $1.2 million investment for the hub’s redevelopment in addition to the redirection of its share of Destination Queenscliff funding.
Ms Neville yesterday attended the first project steering committee meeting to discuss the community hub with traders and representatives from the historical society and community associations yesterday.
She told the Geelong Advertiser the council had been invited, but late yesterday afternoon she received an email saying council representatives would not be there.
The Borough of Queenscliffe did not respond by deadline when asked about why it did not attend.
Several questions directed to council on Thursday night were about Destination Queenscliff.
Mayor Susan Salter responded on the night, but some questions were unable to be directly addressed due to the “confidential nature” of the legal advice council had received, which councillors dis- cussed confidentially later that night.
Following questions from the Geelong Advertiser regarding the discussions, the Borough of Queenscliffe yesterday said in a statement council had been working closely with Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville “to progress a range of activities related to funding for the Hub project and Destination Queenscliff.”
“Council is committed to finalising these matters in a time frame requested by Minister Pulford,” Cr Salter said.
Council’s statement said the borough had received three letters from Ms Pulford and had sought legal advice in order to respond to complex issues she had identified.
The hub development will see the construction of a new building connecting the Queenscliff Visitor Information Centre, Queenscliff Library and Queenscliff Historical Museum.