Blowout doesn’t cut it

Quote of the week definitely goes to mayor Gauci “What has caught us out is the renovation of a 30 year old building” when referring to the $750,000 blowout on the West Gippsland Arts Centre redevelopment. His statement is just rubbish.

There would be detailed plans and specifications on file. Every aspect of the building would have been examined for the $1.4 million WGAC refurbishment completed in March 2016.

The paint had not even dried on these works when council decided to have another go.

On top of the $1.4 million that simply vanished into the ether we now have to date another $750,000 plus overspend.

Add to both projects the operating costs that are not part of the capital cost, including salaries, insurance, utility costs, loan repayments, interest on loans and loss of income, what is the real cost to ratepayers Mayor Gauci?

What Mayor Gauci did not explain in his press statement (June 25) was the rushed decision (like the Utopia debacle) to jump in and take the $8 million on offer from the state and federal governments.

In a letter to the editor at the time of council accepting external funding I wrote “it would be a brave decision to reject $8m in government funding towards a new facility.”

What we as ratepayers expected was due diligence in any decision to proceed..

Council committed ratepayers to a blank cheque for all expenditure incurred in excess of $8 million. The figure from ratepayers’ pockets is at $6 million and rising – is it worth it? Some councillors think not.

Mayor Gauci’s statement the blowout is a result of unknowns for works on a 30 year old building does not cut the mustard. .

Deputy Mayor Goss has repeatedly shown he is in touch with our community and understands “the pub test.”

At the next secret council meeting councillors need to tap Mayor Gauci on the shoulder and say “Joe, time is up”, elect Cr Goss as our new mayor and return Cr Power to the position of deputy mayor.

Such action could see a degree of confidence restored. Don McLean, Warragul

The recent article in the Gazette (July 3) describing the increase in the cost of the alterations and additions to the West Gippsland Arts Centre (WGAC) has clearly caused consternation within the community.

This additional cost is over $750,000 and is a contingency amount that adds about 5.7 per cent to the contract price or budget.

This is, in fact, a modest over-run, as any building professional will know.

Contingencies are a necessary part of any building contract and are required to allow for unforseen works or required changes to the contract.

Our much admired Sydney Opera House had a budget of $7.2 million, but ended up costing nearer $102 million, a figure nearly 14 times its budget.

The poor old NSW government had to run a lottery to pay for it, and its opening date was 10 years late.

Our federal politicians did not seem to lose too much sleep when the new parliament building in Canberra skyrocketed from $150 million to $1.1 billion, seven times its estimated budget.

And if you think other countries have it easy, the new Scottish Parliament building skyrocketed from £10-40 million to £414million, about ten times its budget.

So, if our local building team can keep the contingency amount down to 5.7 per cent, let’s just be grateful. In a few years time, when the Royal Shakespeare Company comes to the WGAC to stage 'Much Ado about Nothing' in our beautiful building, we proud locals will surely realise there was much ado about nothing. Robert Dunlop, Warragul

No business case. No need. $750,000 over budget.

One must congratulate the arts lobby though I doubt if congratulate is the word that is in the mind of most ratepayers.

Still to come of course is the new council chambers attached to the arts centre development. Bob Graham, Yarragon

Thank you David Clarke of Noojee for facilitating an opportunity for VicForests to again explain its release of the social impact scoping study for Noojee.

The complete study materials include around 20 named interviewees who commented on our harvesting intentions. It would be inappropriate to release this identifying detail.

But after a few reasonable requests to see a report, we believed the respectful, open and transparent action would be to comply so far as proper.

We asked the independent expert author – a social anthropologist – to prepare his summary covering the issues but not identifying anyone involved.

David highlights that the summary suggests that no-harvest be evaluated. It also suggests that impacts could be avoided or mitigated, and visual buffers be implemented.

Of course, we did add 100m visual buffers to existing 200m protection zones.

Also, we would not harvest west of McCarthy Spur Rd, and would reserve a large Glider habitat, and retain a further 20 or so habitat trees across the coupe.

Overall, a potential harvest of up to 36ha is now roughly 29ha.

We believe the responsible government department has addressed David’s points about fire.

The study process was initially for internal training to improve our engagement methods. We thank the participants, some of whom complimented our process.

The Noojee study may be downloaded by anyone at: http://www.vicforests.com.au/static/uploads/fil es/vf-report-pilot-studies-noojee-fitzgerald-wfyltoabspdm.pdf Alex Messina, VicForests General manager corporate affairs

I was recently shopping at local supermarket, as I have done thousands of times over the past 14 months.

On this occasion I popped in for two items, one being Supercoat puppy food.

At the checkout I scanned both items and paid for them but did not have a bag, didn't feel it necessary.

On returning to my car a staff member, who was very polite, asked me if I had paid for the puppy food. Luckily I had my receipt.

It shook me up as I did have difficulty in scanning my other product.

Moral of the story to everyone out there, always keep your receipts, even if it is for $5.

Just remember no bags so some people are carting their shopping out in their arms which makes supermarkets justifiably nervous

Yvonne Johnson, Drouin

In the light of an incessant bombardment of negativity by mainstream media, I thought it appropriate that we should have a collective noun for this group. How about a dysphoria of journalists?

Christopher Roering, Darnum