Who runs our council? - By Peter McMahon, Phillip Island Aquatic Centre Fund Inc

I felt the PIACF Inc. should keep our community updated, after our recent proposal to Council to consider a different approach to building and operating the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre.

We requested a meeting with all councillors, via the Councillor Engagement Officer, to fully articulate the proposal, answer any questions that they may have and how the proposal could build two pools in the Shire without incurring the type of ongoing costs to Council that are typical for such projects. 

We felt it was important to ensure councillors understood how the ability of the community to access the facilities would be protected, even when training camps for third party groups such as triathletes, football club and surf life saving were taking place. 

This proposal also fulfils one of council’s directives that there needs to be a clear difference between the two pools.

We received the following response, without having an opportunity to meet with our elected councillors to outline our proposal. 

This is the email response, from one of the Council Managers, to our request to meet with the councillor’s: 

“As previously mentioned over the next six to 12 months council will continue our discussion with advisors and ministers in our advocacy push. Council have determined to stay the course and, as such, will continue with the current advocacy and planning of the aquatics project. Given this, we believe that at this stage there is no need to meet with the president and yourself to go over the report. We can assure you that work on the aquatics project has not stopped and we will continue to pursue funding and opportunities.”

I find this of particular interest given council’s response to the article in the Advertiser (February 25) which stated: “A shire spokesperson said they had carried out community consultation on their feasibility study last year. However, we are always open to receiving new ideas on how to make our community facilities as good and as cost effective.“

But by March 8 it seems that they are not open to new ideas at all.

It is also worthwhile noting that this decision by the officers has been made before a proper or ordinary Council meeting was undertaken, or the opportunity to talk to councillors provided.

So we have to ask “who represents us?” and “Is it appropriate that council employees decide who can and can’t, present information to our elected councillors”?

Surely if an alternative idea is suggested that identifies a different method of construction and operation that would fulfil the community’s needs and save ratepayers money, it is worth further investigation.

It is my understanding, and my great concern, that our councillors have not been shown the results of the feasibility studies carried out last year. 

Surely council officers should be providing information to councillors for them to discuss and evaluate, not censoring what they see. 

How can councillors be expected to make considered and informed decisions?

Anybody wishing to have a soft copy of our proposal which is supplied free of charge is invited to contact Peter McMahon pmc99110@bigpond.net.au.

I also make the offer to all councillors to meet privately to have a full and open discussion of the merits of our proposal.

Editor’s note: The Phillip Island Aquatic Leisure Centre Feasibility Study – final report – was presented for adoption at Council’s meeting this week, Wednesday, March 16