It’s good to see at least one councilor (Councilor David Scott) thinking outside the square and expressing it publicly to the whole community for evaluation. I of course refer to the Editorial in the Glen Innes News dated 2 April re the proposed relocation of the Council Offices – that is, Council Offices relocated to the library, the library to the Dimmy’s building and the Art Gallery to the old Council Offices.
The option Councilor Scott outlined as above, and the reasonings behind it, definitely should be further investigated. It would certainly place some Council services (library & arts gallery) in a more accessible and known locations for the whole community and tourists to visit and appreciate our town and likely purchase some of the art works.
Of course, Councilor Scott hasn’t outlined any cost/benefit ratios compared to this Councils only option of $4 million refit of the old Dimmy’s building. Obviously, this needs to be known first, but can be obtained relatively cheaply with ballpark figures first then firmed with quotes from professional builders/renovators with consultation of staff/people involved in the library and art gallery.
Also to reduce costs, modern office layouts (that is open office space, “hot desks” and a quiet room for private consultations as examples) need to be included in the office design.
Personally, I have great difficulty in comprehending why Council needs a new office building now, when they already have a significant financial debt issue. To now go and increase that financial debt problem by another $6 million on a non-productive asset is simply making a much steeper “slippery slope” to bankruptcy.
Sure, the present Council office has a few problems for present use, but for a sustainable future we have to sometimes put up with the not ideal accommodation until we save sufficient funds to be able to afford shifting locations. Council should be no different to all the rate payers that they have to save furiously (normally called efficient budgeting) before they can shift to new, safer and more accommodating premises/location. This Council has to be different to the Federal & State governments that just keep taxing people to fulfil their own pipe dreams until the golden goose (geese in this case) collapse and die, in which case the whole town then collapses.
Surely a Councils main role is to support the whole community (including businesses) to keep it financially viable and productive. Increasing rates all the time rather than operating within your income, like everybody else has to, goes against that and leading to the demise of our great town and district.
Jeff Lowien, Glen Innes
