[COM] Re: PRO: Victoria Square Upgrade
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 11:08 am
From the Messenger
Councillors baulk on Vic Sq spend
24 May 12 @ 08:30am by Alice Higgins
THE Victoria Square redevelopment might be undone by City councillors who refuse to approve a “half-hearted compromise”.
Four weeks before it votes on its 2012/13 budget, the council is split over whether it should fund the staged overhaul.
The City Messenger reported this month the council had allocated $20 million in its draft budget to start developing Victoria Square.
It also unveiled its final plan for the $95 million facelift - two years after it released its initial plan for consultation.
Cr Michael Henningsen said he would not vote for $20 million to be spent on the square.
“The plan which is going to flow from this $20 million, a lot of which is borrowed, is not the plan that (the) council initially endorsed,” Cr Henningsen said.
“Certainly (the) council should not do a half-hearted compromise project by itself.”
Cr Anne Moran wanted the money to be spent in Rundle Mall or put back into parklands and street maintenance.
“Our ratepayers cannot afford a huge project like that. Clearly the State Government has made their mind up that Victoria Square is not very important and we should follow their lead,” Cr Moran said.
But Cr Mark Hamilton supported $20 million being invested in the square, saying it would be a “public relations disaster” if the council did not start the project in 2012/13.
“(The) council has spent so much money and time and invested a lot of its credibility in the project,” Cr Hamilton said.
“People would quite rightly be very critical of (the) council if it was to abandon the project.”
Deputy Lord Mayor David Plumridge said he would also push for the money to be left on the table because the square was looking “very rundown”.
“($20 million) is not all we need but it is enough to get a really good project going and I think the time is now,” Cr Plumridge said.
Cr Sandy Wilkinson remained uncommitted.
“I am in two minds as to whether we commit to spending some money on a scaled back scheme, or holding back to see if some money from other tiers of government can be forthcoming,” Cr Wilkinson said.
Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said more than 80 per cent of people who responded to the draft plan had endorsed the project.
“Victoria Square, as is, is a national disgrace,” Mr Yarwood said. “We have been planning this project for three or four years ... it is time that (the) council showed it is willing to say yes to progress.”