The Beagle Editor
There’s been a lot of community discussion about the development or redevelopment of the Mackay Park precinct in Batemans that will now include a new Aquatic Centre and some other public assets. But when discussions began and election promises were being made by Councillor Lindsay Brown and Councillor Liz Innes about the MacKay Park precinct, including the acquisition of the Old Bowling Club Site, the promises both of them made indicated that the community might be see improved publicly owned assets like the swimming pool, community centre etc. It was improvements that were proposed to be included in a redevelopment of the amalgamated site, and promises that the new Community Rooms would be as good or better than the present facility, at Museum Place. But now we learn that isn’t intended to be. Match box size facilities are to be provided, reducing the viability of what will be another accumulating or compounding public liability.
Our council is aware of the potential for a new compounding financial liability that will require significant ratepayer subsidy’s for years. But those employed to assist our elected representatives like the General Manager and other senior staff are apparently pushing ahead with the attitude of selling off or leasing other community owned assets in an attempt to financially manage the newly created financial public liability. However it’s now publicly known some of our elected representatives are not happy about the idea of potentially leasing or selling the Batemans Bay Community centre to assist with underwriting the newly created MacKay Park Aquatic Centre financial liability. Councillors Lindsay Brown and Councillor Liz Innes would do the shires residents well by honouring their public promises associated with the acquisition of Old Batemans Bay Bowling Club Site and the redevelopment of the MacKay Park precinct, wouldn’t they? By the way, what happened to the sea pool?
Allan Brown
Catalina
