Rodney Stevens
The future of Grafton’s Regional Aquatic Centre has hit another hurdle after a motion at an Extraordinary council meeting, noting negotiations were ongoing between council and tenderers was lost five votes to four.
Council originally anticipated negotiations with tenderers would be completed between the July and August council meetings, but as this didn’t eventuate the motion was brought to the meeting to advise councillors the Tender Evaluation Panel is continuing negotiations with one or more tenderers.
At the extraordinary meeting on Friday, August 18, Cr Karen Toms moved the officer’s recommendation which was seconded by Cr Debrah Novak that council;
- Note that negotiations in relation to tender offers for the regional aquatic centre are ongoing.
- Consider the outcome of the negotiations for the request for tender at an Extraordinary Council meeting prior to the September Ordinary Council meeting, if required.
When Cr Peter Johnstone asked had there been many meetings about tenders, General Manager Laura Black replied, “I understand there has been a number of meetings with more than one tenderer.”
Speaking against the motion Cr Johnstone said, “the costs are clearly well beyond what we were expecting, and I think we should be closing this process now and looking for alternatives.”
Mayor Ian Tiley advised Cr Johnstone a recission motion needed to be lodged if he wanted to alter the course council was taking.
Cr Karen Toms said the motion was simply to inform councillors that the negotiations with tenderers for the regional aquatic centre were ongoing.
The motion was lost five votes to four, with councillors Steve Pickering, Karen Toms, Allison Whaites and Debrah Novak in support.
Following the vote, Cr Tiley said his expectation was a recission motion would come forward that councillors will vote on, which could change direction with negotiations about the regional aquatic centre.