THE former Mulwaree Shire Council chambers could be sold if deemed excess to needs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
New general manager Warwick Bennett is calling for a comprehensive review of council buildings, some of which remain from the 2004 council amalgamations.
He said Council hadn’t consolidated a firm direction on its buildings since that time.
“We need to have a longterm view of our buildings and the future use of them in a 10-year plan,” Mr Bennett stated in a report.
“With regularity we spend $200,000 to do a temporary fix rather than look at the longterm needs of this organisation and what properties we are going to occupy and/or lease.”
Importantly, he has questioned the business case for upgrading the old Montague St chambers for community use.
The council has just agreed in principle to allow Community Plus to occupy the building, delivering education programs. A report will go to the ordinary August meeting setting out the terms of agreement.
But its top floor has been ruled out for use. A working party and council officers have been investigating access issues and put a committee report to councillors at the last meeting.
Mr Bennett said it wasn’t adequate.
“We as staff have failed to tell the Council the costs of upgrading this building for public use,” he stated.
“It has no disability access, the doors inside are too narrow for a public building and the upstairs portion cannot be accessed for public use without considerable expenditure.
“It is estimated that $600,000 would need to be spent to give appropriate access to the building and upstairs.”
He questioned whether it would be better to sell the building and construct a purpose- designed facility on other Council owned or managed property.
Mr Bennett revealed that a party had already approached Council about buying the building.
“If there’s an opportunity to sell the building and give Community Plus a better one, we’ll review that as we go,” he said.
The organisation lodged an expression of interest to occupy the building. Former senator Ursula Stephens is one of the driving forces.
The Goulburn and District Historical Society has also been offered 100 square metres at the rear of the building for its archives until St Clair’s future is known.
Mr Bennett said the learning hub was an exciting opportunity for Goulburn and it was important that Council acted.
“These people have passion and enthusiasm and we will take roadblocks out of the way,” he said.
Another former Mulwaree Shire office in Clinton St is also under the microscope. It returns $430,000 in annual rent and has no loans outstanding.
In his report, Mr Bennett said he understood Corrective Services was downsizing its operations in Goulburn. The lease expires in June, 2015 but the tenant has a four-year renewal option.
“What is Council’s future intent?” Mr Bennett asked.
Under amalgamation terms, Upper Lachlan Shire Council is entitled to 24.22 per cent of proceeds if the Clinton St and/or Montague St buildings are sold. General manager John Bell has told Goulburn Mulwaree his council was happy for any funds from a Montague St sale to go into the learning hub.
The future of St Clair is also up in the air, pending investigations into upgrade and compliance costs.
Mr Bennett wants to discuss all these issues in a workshop with councillors.
On another front, the new GM has questioned why Council was spending $200,000 this financial year on a lift between the art gallery and library.
“I’m not sure how this proposal was developed but it is seen as unnecessary by library staff,” he wrote.
Mr Bennett will write a ‘strategic directions’ report on Council property management with options and opportunities to better manage them over the next 10 years.