Council admin centre opposed

A SMALL group of Maryborough locals has launched a petition against the building of Council’s new administration centre in Kent Street.

The Fraser Coast Regional Council recently voted to replace the admin building across from City Hall which was torn down in 2019.

Only Mayor George Seymour and Deputy Mayor Darren Everard initially voted against the decision, with Councillor Daniel Sanderson subsequently joining them.

Last week, chief petitioner Helen Outhwaite along with Pat Davis, Chris Hyne and Stuart Norton met on the site to discuss the alternatives, claiming that “The fixation by Council in planning a new building to house all their staff, state government and the library has resulted in inadequate research into the other option of purchasing one or more existing buildings and having staff spread over more than one location.”

They then met with Mayor Seymour and Cr Sanderson to discuss the alternatives.

“The Mayor (is) in favour of upgrading the existing town hall

(sic) to cater for front office staff and back office staff being located in another building.”

The group’s concern is that money will be wasted on the new project, whilst currently empty and under-utilised buildings are ignored as viable alternatives.

Council staff have been housed in temporary offices for three years since the old centre was torn down. The site has since been converted into a public green space which the group says is a popular addition to the CBD.

“It’s not too late for Council to reverse it’s decision” said Pat Davis.

Councillor Paul Truscott however said that Council needs to weigh up many factors when making decisions of this magnitude.

“Considerations such as benefit to the community - both in terms of economic and social services, up front and ongoing costs and what the community as a whole would like, and balancing the needs between the different groups within the community.” he said.

“There have been comments made that the library would be closed, (inferring) that there would be no library. Comments like this are not based on fact, but emotion.

“Council has no intention to close library services in Maryborough. The option was there to create an entirely new library.”

“Further comments have been made that a building set above the car park of the former admin centre site will block the view of City Hall. I work inside City Hall and I have never seen people standing in the…car park at the back of Woolworths admiring the view.”

“I can imagine however someone inside the comfort of an airconditioned library, reading a book and having a coffee, looking through the windows over the green space towards the magnificent City Hall.”

The petition opposing the development has been distributed to shops and offices throughout the CBD in the hope of getting upwards of 500 signatures.

“(We will be) addressing the next council meeting (November 24).” said Mr Davis.

“The petition and our associated research will then be presented to council at their December meeting.”