Rodney Stevens

As Clarence Valley Council pushes ahead with the demolition of the Treelands Drive Community Centre, freedom of information requests have revealed information about the project funding and refurbishing the existing centre was a viable option under the funding guidelines.

Concerned about the process of approval for the development, the Yamba Community Action Network Yamba CAN Inc. requested a number of documents about the project through the Government Information Public Access GIPA process.

In a story the CV Independent published in July 2021, when the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery BLER grant for the Treelands Drive Community Centre TDCC upgrade was announced, it stated the grant would provide $11.1 million and council would provide $2 million.

The latest costing for the project on council’s website is $17,973,320, including GST, meaning council will now have to borrow almost $5 million to complete the centre, at the current costing.

Despite other media reports that the cost has blown out, council’s General Manager, Laura Black told the CV Independent the cost of the TDCC has not changed since the tender was awarded, and previous amounts quoted were without GST, which accounts for the difference.

Yamba CAN Inc. requested the information as they were concerned councillors were not provided all the important and timely information and advice and the administrative and professional support necessary to effectively discharge their functions as per the Local Government Act 1993 section 335.

The Quarterly report submitted by Clarence Valley Council staff to the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery BLER fund on October 28, 2022, reveals council had commenced an alternative design for Option B, refurbishing the existing building that opened in 1999, and it was a viable funding option under BLER guidelines.

“Under the direction of Council’s Executive Team, JCA (design team) have been engaged to prepare an alternative design option for refurbishing the existing community centre and incorporating a new library building on site,” council staff stated in the report.

Council staff further stated in the report “Council is currently investigating an alternative design option of refurbishing the existing community centre. The project team are confident this alternative option will keep the project in line with the required timeframes and approved budget. This alternative design option remains in line with the scope of works set out in the funding deed.”

The report also states “JCA are on hold until it is determined which option Council will pursue. A decision is expected to be made in November 22.”

With the threat that the Wooli Street Hall would be sold to help fund the construction of the new centre, at the December 2022 council meeting, Cr Greg Clancy put forward a motion that was seconded by Cr Debrah Novak that council:

1. Investigate a contract variation with the current design contract for the detailed design of Option B. 
2. Allocate expenditure to date in design of Yamba Community Precinct (Option A) totalling $ 728,818 to the General Fund as a deficit.      
3. Retain the Wooli Street Hall.

There was a 6 to 3 vote in support of the motion, with Cr’s Pickering, Toms, and Whaites voting against.

Then, prior to the February 28, 2023, council meeting, councillors were informed by council staff that Council would lose the grant if they proceeded with Option B.

This was confirmed in a staff report in the business papers for the February 2023 meeting which stated, “Option B (construction of a Library) does not meet the grant guidelines or the approved funding allocation.”

Based on the information that Option B would not meet funding guidelines, at the February 2023 meeting, Cr Karen Toms moved a motion, which was seconded by Cr Steve Pickering that council rescind Option B in its resolution of December 2022 (Item 07.22.290).

Councillors then voted 6 to 3 to proceed with Option A, with Cr’s Clancy, Smith and Johnstone voting against.

Yamba CAN Inc. have since discovered in a March 2023 GIPA document from the grant funding body, provided to the CV Independent that “Option B would have been a permissible scope variation (to refurbish the existing centre, rather than knockdown/rebuild, in order to deliver the project within the available funds).”

Meanwhile, council staff have updated the public on the project’s progress in its weekly newsletter.

“Contractor, Bennett Constructions, mobilised in December and secured the site with fencing and security cameras, and installed erosion and sediment controls,” council stated.
 
“They have removed the solar panels, roof, and walls of the building and are now removing the structural steel frame.
“Demolition of the concrete slab and foundations will continue throughout February.”

The CV Independent has contacted several Clarence Valley Councillors who verified they were told multiple times that Option B was not viable under the BLER grant funding, so some of those councillors voted to support Option A as they thought council could lose the $11.1 million grant.