Councillor criticises lack of cost analysis

A $750,000 blowout on the West Gippsland Arts Centre redevelopment was described as “terrible news” and a “disgrace” by a Baw Baw Shire councillor who opposed the project 16 months ago.

When council approved the $13.4 million project in February last year, Cr Danny Goss said it was a waste of money and “failed the pub test” for community support.

Speaking after the meeting last week, Cr Goss said he was not necessarily against the project but he wanted to see the business case and economic analysis.

“This is very, very disappointing. It is like a slow motion train wreck, we could see it was going to happen,” he said.

At last week’s council meeting, Cr Goss was the first to criticise the project costs blowout. “It didn’t wash well with me then and it still doesn’t,” he said.

Cr Goss said it would end up costing the community nearly $15 million by the time it was finished.

“There was no business case at all for this arts centre and it is the last ting presented to this table that didn’t have a business case.

“I look at the people who came to use for soccer facilities during submissions. Money that could have gone to those projects has had to go into the arts centre.

“It has basically hampered this council for the next four years,” he said.

Cr Goss told the meeting the blowout could not be blamed on current management. He said it was not the fault of the new ceo or engineers.

Cr Michael Leaney also voted against the arts centre project last year.

“That was because I thought it was under-cooked. For anyone that watches Grand Designs, no one ever comes in under budget,” he said.

Cr Leaney said he was confident the end result would be worthwhile.

Cr Mikaela Power agreed it was disappointing, saying with better planning council could have been in a better position.

But, she said, council needed sporting facilities and needed arts and culture as well.

When council voted on the redevelopment project last year, Cr Goss, Leaney and Keith Cook voted against the works.

Cr Goss said he was “vehemently opposed” to committing money to a project that ”doesn’t pass the pub test.” He said the project did not stack up. “Nothing I’ve heard persuades me that this money needs to be spent,” he said at the time.