CLAIMS that the South Gippsland Shire Council plans to build itself a new ‘Taj Mahal’ office complex in Leongatha in the next term “probably costing over $25 million” were raised again on Tuesday night, October 15 when the candidates in the Tarwin Valley ward faced the voters in an online forum.
Turns out there were precious few voters online watching the event convened by local lawyer and independent candidate for Monash, Deb Leonard, maybe because it was staged around dinner time.
Maybe people simply didn’t know it was on.
One of the issues that was central to a presentation by former South Gippsland Mayor, Don Hill, was claims the shire is secretly planning to reinstate plans to build new shire offices in Leongatha, claims that have since been addressed in a “misinformation” page on its website. Click HERE to read.
Mr Hill commented on this issue in his opening statement and also during question time.
Another Tarwin Vallley candidate, Kathleen Murray of Mirboo North also referred to the ‘Taj Mahal’ saying the new offices should not be built and the money should be instead committed to rate relief.
“The building they have is adequate. It’s ratepayers’ money and should be used for ratepayers benefit,” Ms Murray said.
Here’s what Mr Hill had to say in his opening remarks:
“There's aspects of the capital works program that are going to be built in the next four years, which I believe the ratepayers don't know anything about, and I believe they've been scheduled so that it falls between elections and when it gets built next year.
“I think the municipal office project, which was initially coming in 2016, we threw that out in 2017, I think that's coming back next year, and is probably going to cost over $25 million and it's not required.
“So, there's significant proposals and projects coming forward, and they need to be pursued by the councillors that get elected. The current Council, I believe, have just rubber stamped everything that has been put to them, and they've not stood up to anything that the community is not happy about. They're just accepting what’s been put to them.”
He went on to claim he had seen details of the project in a tender document “where it talked about the Memorial Hall” but that it also talked about developing a two-storey building behind the Memorial Hall.
“That’s the shire offices. It’s misleading to put it into the tender for another project, likely to cost $25 million. They’re not letting the community know what’s happening.
Here is what the council said on its misleading information page:
“Council is committed to correcting inaccuracies that arise in our community during the election period. This is to ensure community members are provided with factual information to help make an informed voting decision.
“Municipal Office Project: Council recently completed a refurbishment of its main municipal office located in Leongatha. The refurbishment was required to modernise the office space and improve accessibility
“External cladding works were also undertaken to remove asbestos-containing materials and update the façade. The total project cost was approximately $4M.
“There is no other Municipal Office Project either planned or occurring.”
There was no line item in the 2024-25 South Gippsland Shire Council budget referring to either the Memorial Hall or council offices project.
The council’s 2024 Advocacy Projects strategy listed the following when seeking funds from State and Federal governments:
* Increase road funding to rural councils
* Leongatha Heavy Vehicle Alternative Route
* Disaster Recovery Infrastructure Funding and Community Energy Hubs
* Renewable Energy Investment: Barry Beach Marine Terminal and Port Anthony
* Early Years Infrastructure
* Upgrade of Sporting Facilities and Leongtha Grandstand
* Resilient Coastal Communities
* Connectivity and Community Transport
* Supporting Volunteers and Community Groups
All Tarwin Valley ward candidates attended by video link on the night including John Schelling, Clare Williams, Rosemary Cousin, Brad Snell, Kathleen Murray, Aaron Taylor, and Don Hill. Cr Schelling left the meeting to attend another appointment after delivering his opening statement.
