Greens MP, David Shoebridge, has asked a series of questions in Parliament in relation to the necessary permissions and approvals required from the Government in relation to Manly Council's proposed car park under Manly Oval.

The General Manager, Henry Wong, has informed the Council that "all necessary permissions have been sought".  Our own initial research would seem to question that.  It will be interesting to see the answers to Mr Shoebridge's questions which will be on-line here from 16th September.

Manly Council is crashing through with their controversial oval car park/Whistler St redevelopment plan. 
Strong opposition at the August general meeting (10/8/15), from a packed and angry public gallery and all four non-Liberal councillors, was ignored by the Liberal council block.

A vaguely-worded resolution for GM Henry Wong to “provide information to the public” about progress so far from the Expressions of Interest process was passed at the last meeting, despite outrage from the public gallery. 

The full page ad in Saturday’s Manly Daily, and the new www.manly2015  webpage and E-Newsletter, is presumably the result. 

But it doesn’t tell us anything much. 

There are lots of pretty pictures (see above) and reassuring PR blurb. There’s also a new slogan - Manly2015 has become Revitalise Manly Beyond The Corso. But there are no hard facts. Nor is there a mention anywhere that the proposed car park has been reduced in size, therefore making it more 'affordable'.

What specifically is being proposed? Where will the traffic go? How much will it cost?

Good For Manly Councillor, Candy Bingham, who has been working tirelessly for more transparency around the process, is particularly concerned that the size of the Oval Car park has reduced dramatically, with no public input. "This proposal was initially sold on the fact that it would increase parking in Manly.  We now find that in fact if will only replace what we already have,  in a less convenient location with a large operations price tag", she said. 

Major changes in the “vision” are not pointed out. Now, for example, the oval car park is a 500 car space affair. The plan used to be for 740 spots. 

Cr Barbara Aird summed it up: “You can’t spin it anymore - this plan will not pedestrianise our CBD as was the original vision.”

The one voice of support came from Manly Chamber of Commerce president Mark Stanley. But he hedged his bets when asked if the Chamber supported the new smaller car park plan. 

"Provided the car park can be scaled up and funds are available to do that, we're in support,” he said.
Specifically asked if Chamber members had been told the car park size had shrunk, he later admitted they had not.  

Now the redevelopment of the Whistler Street site is being sold as a 'community benefit' on the basis of a 99 year lease to developers to demolish the car park and build more shops and apartments on the site. The Library will be rebuilt or refurbished as part of the deal.

This is serious. It will change our village centre for ever. Same goes for our heritage oval and “village green”. Many are questioning if the community benefits will deliver what the community actually wants.

The liberals say the project will be “cost neutral” and there will be “no need for a long term loan”. 
But Good For Manly’s financial analysis experts say the figures - such as we have seen - don’t stack up.  

A project as important as this can not be run by a council that takes any alternative view as a personal insult. Or that deliberately hides the facts, claiming convenient “commercial in confidence” constraints. 

Or as Mayor Jean Hay kindly summed it up to the public gallery at last week's Council meeting: the more opposition there is the more determined we are.  

These are the same people who were hell bent on selling off public-owned waterfront land at Little Manly Beach, until the Land & Environment Court made them stop.  They are now building an ugly, over-size and over budget indoor leisure facility at the local swim centre. It’s way bigger than anyone wants and it’s trashing and encroaching on Graham Reserve along the way.  And of course, no updated financials or progress reports have been provided, not even to the Councillors.

The “flagship” redevelopment of Short St/Manly Plaza is a flop, with beautification promises not being followed through. The Raglan St upgrade seems to be going the same way, with local retailers now being charged the same rates as The Corso for outdoor seating - even though the pedestrian traffic is minimal.

There’s a council election next year. Stop everything until then.  After-all the Liberals do not have a mandate to go ahead.  None of  these massive Manly2015 projects were even mentioned in their election materials!

The four independents,  Clrs Candy Bingham, Barbara Aird, Hugh Burns and Cathy Griffin, had lodged a motion to stop any further action on Manly Oval or the redevelopment of the Whistler St car park site.

But that motion has been ruled out of order on the grounds that it contradicts previous council resolutions.

"This is a blatant attempt  to block democracy," Clr Bingham said.  "The council administration is illegally refusing to accept the motion because it doesn't suit them.

"If council resolutions could never by challenged, every single decision the council has made in the last 100 years would still stand. That's just ridiculous."

At stake is the future of Manly CBD with the Liberal majority expected to push through a motion calling for tenders to construct a smaller oval car park and redevelop the Whistler Street site.

If  this is done the two huge projects will be locked in, despite the complete lack of clarity over what the tenders will actually be calling for, and the total absence of community consultation.

“It is an outrage. The whole expressions of interest process was for  a car park that is quite different to what has been promoted to the community and Manly businesses since 2011”, Clr Bingham said. 


"The new car park will only have 470 spaces, not the original 760 - a decision which was made with no consultation, not even with councillors themselves," she said.

"The latest plan does not provide any additional parking, which was a key point of the original proposal, and a very limited increase in areas for pedestrians.  We are losing a locals car park for a tourists car park."

Clr Griffin agreed, saying that the original vision of Manly2015 has been lost, and there was a complete lack of community support for what is proposed now.

Clr Aird criticised the "ongoing lack of openness, accountability, transparency and genuine community consultation" on the biggest project Manly Council has ever taken on.

Clr Hugh Burns said his constituents were completely opposed to public land at Whistler St car park being sold off.  "The public consider it too convenient to demolish," he said.
"It can easily be refurbished.”

Already a number of resident precinct groups have voted against both projects proceeding, and a request for an interim heritage order was lodged last week by former Manly Town Planner Robert Burgess, to protect Ivanhoe Park and the Village Green where Manly Oval is located.

There is expected to be a show-down at Monday night's Council meeting (10/8/15) when the matter is back on the agenda.  A staff report has outlined in glowing terms how successful the Expressions of Interest process  has been but has failed to acknowledge that the latest proposal will not deliver a single additional car parking space for Manly.  The four independent councillors continue to fight the lack of accountability and transparency with the process which started in 2011.

Does anyone really know what the current Manly2015 Plan actually is?

An Interim Heritage Order has been sought from the Heritage Council to protect Ivanhoe Park & Manly Oval as a Heritage Item.

Manly Oval & Ivanhoe Park is listed as an Item of Heritage in the Manly Planning Scheme and no " excavation or development work “ can be undertaken until a Heritage Report is prepared and considered. No such report or consideration has been given although Council is proceeding to call tenders.

Ivanhoe Park & Manly Oval  have significant Heritage & Historic value dating back to before Proclamation as a Park in 1887.

Many significant historical events have occurred on the Oval including the final practice match for the 
Australian Aboriginal Cricket in 1868 prior there departure for a 47 game tour of England. This is additionally significant as they were the first Australian representative team of any sport to tour overseas.

It is believed that Manly  Oval, in its natural context, is the best example in Sydney and possibly Australia of a Public Recreation Oval integrated into a "village" area. For this reason together with the rich history of recorded events which have taken place in the Park, careful preservation and celebration of this place is essential and is currently at serious risk.

Former Manly Council Town Planner and Urban Design Consultant, Rob Burgess, has headed a team of local historians  which have championed the documentation of the heritage significance of Manly Oval in the light of the proposal to build a major car park under the site.

In addition, a community working group has been formed to prepare and lodge a request to the Heritage Council of NSW for the listing of Ivanhoe Park Manly on the State Heritage Register.

This decision was made at the Ivanhoe Park Precinct Committee meeting on 29 July 2015.

The group includes representatives from Ivanhoe Park, Fairlight and North Harbour Precinct committees, Stephen Richards from St. Andrews Church Management Committee, citizens Rob Burgess, David Barr and John Steggell with technical Heritage & Historic advice from Jim Boyce, Shelagh Champion OAM & George Champion OAM. 

What are your memories of Manly Oval?

Locals are alarmed by an Expression of Interest from Woolworths to turn the historic Oval  into a shopping centre with two  levels of parking above ground and the playing fields on top.

 The previously rumoured proposal by Woolworths has now emerged. Their ambitious left-field submission is for a shopping centre similar in size to Stocklands Balgowlah including a supermarket, specialty shops, a stadium/clubhouse and a 1000-space above ground car park.

The sports oval, tennis courts and bowling club will be reinstated seven metres - that's two and a half stories - above ground level. 

“You would think we were in Singapore not Manly. Why would we even consider building a shopping centre on this site?” she exclaimed.

"Not only will we lose the whole of Ivanhoe Park including Manly's beautiful heritage oval, which is crown land, but the new development will gut retail in Manly's existing village centre and destroy Manly's most precious asset - its seaside village feel." Clr Bingham added

“One has to question the connections between Woolworths, the Mounties and  Manly Rugby Club.  And why do the  Liberal councillors seem so determined to push through a car park on the oval site despite major public opposition”, Clr Bingham said.

Since the Manly2015 Plan was first released in 2011, Clr Bingham and many independent experts have questioned the financial validity of the oval car park project stating that the numbers just did not add up.

Other EOI submissions received, which only focused on an underground car park, will no doubt confirm the long-held view that Council has completely under-estimated the cost of building a two level 760 space underground car park for the $34m budget allocated.

Clr Bingham claims that the existing budget will only provide a smaller car park which will, in effect, just replace existing car parking spaces that will be lost due to the demolition of the Whistler Street car park and removal of parking from the streets.

“It’s time this council either scrapped the oval car park plan altogether or shelved it until the next election.  As for the Woolworths proposal, it’s an insult and should be immediately discarded”, Clr Bingham concluded.

Expressions of Interest can be viewed here
Woolworth’s proposal is A-4.

Twelve EOIs were received for the construction of a car park on the Manly Oval site. They were:
AW Edwards; Abergelidie, Built Athas, Cockram Pty Ltd, FDC Pty Ltd, Haslin, Hindmarsh Pty Ltd, Hutchinson Builders, Kane, Michael Campareale (Campareale Holdings Pty Ltd) Richard Crookes Pty Ltd, Woolworths.

Three EOIs were received for the redevelopment of the Whistler Street site on a 99 year lease. They were:
Built Athas, Grengate, Grocon.

Lots of plans of underground car parks, and a number of artist's impressions of what could be redeveloped in Whistler Street, is the bulk of what has gone on public display as a result of the Expressions of Interest (EOI)  process for the sites undertaken by Manly Council.

But if you are looking for costings, the names of submitters linked to the proposals or any rationale - you won't find it.

Manly Council has now released on public exhibition the EOIs received for their controversial Manly2015 Plan to build a car park under Manly Oval, and a 99 year lease for the redevelopment of the Whistler Street car park site.

Due to reasons of 'commercial in confidence', the documents are of little value other than to give locals and Councillors a glimpse of some of the proposals submitted.  You can view here.

The list of submitters is impressive, 15 in total ie 12 for the design and construction of the oval car park and three for the redevelopment of the Whistler Street site.  Submissions for the car park  were received from:
AW Edwards, Abergelidie, Built/Athas, Cockram Pty Ltd, FDC Pty Ltd, Haslin, Hindmarsh Pty Ltd, Hutchinson Builders, Kane, Michael Campareale (Campereale Holdings Pty Ltd), Richard Crookes Pty Ltd and Woolworths.

The three submissions for the redevelopment site were Built/Athas, Grengate and Grocon.

So what's next?

• The public exhibition period closes on 31st July
  
• A Report to Council is expected by August
  
• Successful submitters will be invited to tender - a 28 day process
  
• Tenders expected to close end of September
  
• Report back to Council on recommended tender/s expected by November, 2015.
  

"At this stage even the Councillors have not been given access to the full submissions although I will be pushing to ensure that we get to  view at least the short list of submissions before the report is presented to Council", Clr Candy Bingham said.

"These are  the most significant projects undertaken in Manly for decades and is clearly high risk. The process to date has not filled me with confidence. Given the highly controversial nature of the Plan, it is imperative that the elected councillors are fully briefed before voting on the matter", she said.

"Given IPART is expected to announce the outcome of Council amalgamations in  October one really has to question the rush to go to tenders", Clr Bingham added.

Expressions of Interest closed last Friday (12/6/15) with Council receiving 12 for the design and construct of a smaller car park under Manly Oval (470 spaces against the original proposal of 760 spaces); and three submissions for the redevelopment of the Whistler Street site.

Following a motion moved by Clr Candy Bingham, Council resolved that all submissions would be made public, and put on exhibition for 28 days.

A report is expected to come back to Council's September Ordinary meeting for further debate.

While, of course, you would expect a large number of EOIs for the construction of the oval car park, given the Council (ie ratepayes) will be taking the full risk for this project, many are querying why the General Manager issued the EOI for a smaller, 470 space car park.  The original Manly2015 Plan, and all the due diligence reports, were based on a larger car park which was to provide additional parking for Manly's CBD.

"The smaller car park will only just replace what we already have, expect in a less convenient location", said Clr Bingham.  The changes needed to accommodate the oval car park and the redevelopment of the Whistler Street site,  will see a around 100 parking spaces removed from the streets", she added.

Although the Manly Chamber of Commerce has always publicly supported a car park under the oval, President Mark Stanley said a smaller car park was never on the table during those discussions.

So why has Council requested a smaller car park in its EOIs?  One would wonder if it might have something to do with  the fact that Council has claimed all along that the car park would not cost more than $34 million?

As part of its Manly2015 Plan, Manly Council's notification to businesses in Whistler Street, Sydney Road and Central Avenue last week of its proposed staged closure of Sydney Road from Belgrave Street to The Corso, and the creation of a cul-de-sac at Central Avenue,  was met with concern by affected retailers and apartment owners.

In the meantime, businesses and property owners in Raglan Street, including St Mary's Church and school, are challenging the Council over its current changes to Raglan Street, which include the removal of parking and the lack of a pedestrian crossing in this section of the street.  (From Belgrave Street to the Steyne).

The Chamber of Commerce has written to  Council requesting  the delay of the proposed closure of Sydney Road from Belgrave to Whistler Street (which will become Gateway Plaza), because it would effectively cut off easy access to the existing Whistler Street car  park.  The Chamber  stated that whilst in the past its members  have supported the Gateway Plaza the current concept plans do not include the  additional parking beneath Manly Oval. The concept concept therefore merely removes parking options and will ultimately increase congestion within the Manly CBD.  The Chamber continues, however,  to support the overall Manly2015 Plan and the building of a 760 space car park under Manly Oval.

According to Good for Manly Councillor, Candy Bingham, many of the proposed closures are premature.
"The final decisions to build a car park under the oval or to redevelop the Whistler Street car park site have not been made.   Closing Sydney Road from Belgrave to Whistler street will simply add to traffic congestion and cause confusion to motorists visiting Manly and looking for parking.  It's a crazy idea" ,  she said.

"With the spectre of an amalgamation hanging over their heads and the current Council term running out supposedly in September 2016,  it would seem that those ruling the Council are determined to push through their controversial  Manly2015 Plan,  despite ongoing criticism of lack of consultation and transparency of the process", Clr Bingham added. 

In summary the  current Sydney Road project includes:

• New street lights, public seats and street signs will be provided.
  
• Landscaping, paving and drainage work will be carried out.
  
• Some new trees will be planted and all existing trees will be retained.
• A new pedestrian thoroughfare will be constructed along Sydney Road from Central Avenue to Whistler Street and from Whistler Street to Belgrave Street.
• Whistler Street will become two-way.
• Central Avenue will become a two-way cul-de-sac.

At present the council is proposing to commence work on closures of Sydney Road in October 2015 - right in the peak tourist time.  Again, shop-keepers are not happy!

You can view the Council's plans for Sydney Road below:

Although many are under the impression that Manly Council has agreed to keep the Whistler Street car park and upgrade the Library - that was last month.  Once again, things have changed.

Following on from a resolution moved by Clr Steve Pickering and Clr James Griffin an Expression of Interest (EOI) progress has commenced for the "opportunity to enter into a long term lease (the maximum term offered is 99 years) with Council to redevelop the strategic site .... generally bounded by Whistler Street, Market Lane and Library Place, Manly".    Submissions close 12th June. 2015.

(Update: 12/6/15 .... At the EOI closing this afternoon, Council received 3 submissions to the EOI for Whistler Street Village Centre Redevelopment and 12 submissions to the EOI for Design and Construct Car Park Beneath Manly Oval.)


Respondents are invited to submit their interests and offers for at least two development scenarios. They are:

1. Redevelopment of the subject site in totality, which will include the building of a new library and offices for Council and in placed in Council's ownership under a separate stratum and with a total useable floor area of approximately 3,000 sq m.

2. Redevelopment of the subject site with the retention of and adding floor space to the existing library.

Although the EOI outlines that submissions should comply with Council's planning controls many believe that to provide the return on investment needed for such a redevelopment that developers would have to 'push the envelope' and a much higher building would need to be approved (or won in the Land & Environment Court).

The fundamental question still remains - why is Council continuing to push a project, which is linked to the creation of the Oval car park, when residents have clearly stated they don't want it and want to retain the more convenient location for parking. In addition,  independent due diligence reports have clearly confirmed that the site would only be viable for developers if Council made the site suitable for the "biggest and best" use scenario

Manly Council has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to build and construct a new car park under Manly Oval which will "accommodate at least 470 cars, but is designed to be expandable, with construction by others, to 760 spaces in the future".

This has surprised a number of Councillors who were expecting that the EOI would be for the original larger car park of 760 spaces, which Council has been stating from day one was what was needed; would be the most cost effective solution; and could be built for $34m.

"Once again this process is flawed", claimed Independent Councillor Candy Bingham. " We are now being told that 'based on the demand study, a car park with 470 spaces now and 760 in the future will deliver the "best value for money outcome” with the additional capacity not needed until 2030' she said.
 
So why the sudden switch to a smaller car park?  Consider these facts:

1. Manly does not currently need additional parking. 
2. The new smaller car park will only replace parking removed from the street, and parking currently
  available in Whistler St (which is to be redeveloped for mixed use and apartments with no parking).
3. The cost of the smaller car park will be closer to the original budget of $34m.
4. Forecasts show that a larger car park will not be required until at least 2030.
5. A larger car park of 760 spaces is likely to cost $45m-$50m not $34m as originally budgeted.

“Even if the Council is successful in getting a long-term lease for the Whistler Street site to offset some of the cost of building a new car park under Manly Oval, the facts still remain. They are replacing a well-located, very profitable car park with a new car park further away which will carry a very large debt and major ongong operating costs.

“Why?   There must be more to this than the vision of  'pedestrianising Manly'.” Clr Bingham said.

The EOI closes Friday 12th June with a report expected to come to Council in July 2015.

At a meeting called by the Premier Mike Baird on April 9 with chairs from the precincts (6 precincts were present), there was agreement amongst the chairs that the clear view of the majority of the residents is that, as a consequence of the current confusion, the long history of changes in strategy by the Council and the potential financial risks associated with building a new car park under the oval, no decision to proceed with any car park development should be considered until after the next local Government elections. 

Addressing the Council meeting last night Terry Le Roux, Chair of North Harbour Precinct, said there was no immediate need or imperative to take action on the Whistler St site or build new car parking capacity - it was entirely discretionary.  “There is currently understandable confusion among the residents on this issue.  Making a decision to delay and hold over any further work would demonstrate to the community that the Councillors are listening to the residents”, he said

Clr Steve Pickering, who moved the motion to call for proposals, said “We know there is concern and polarisation of views in the community. So we are trying to move forward. We will have an open and transparent brief.   What better way to resolve the divergent community views, than to test the market?”

But the Independent Councillors remained firm stating that the redevelopment of the Whistler Street site was not acceptable to the majority of the community, and the viability of the oval car park was dubious at best.

Clr Candy Bingham summed it up by saying: “Just shelve it and be done with it. What a waste of time and money”. 

However the recession motion was lost and the calling of proposals is to proceed.

What Has Been Spent on Manly 2015?

At the same meeting Cr Candy Bingham asked for a report on costs incurred since the Manly2015 masterplan to revitalise Manly CBD was launched in 2008. The report would include design and planning fees, marketing expenses, traffic studies, capital works undertaken to date, and so on. 

The motion was knocked back on the grounds that it was a) too difficult to find out, and b) it had all been budgeted for anyway.

The knockback, predictably enough, came from each of the Liberal councillors, as well as one Independent who said he was trying to compromise. 

The joke, or tragedy, was that this motion came straight after one where Liberal councillors trumpeted their intention to proceed with Manly2015 with complete "openness and transparency". 

So how much has Manly Council spent on Manly 2015 and why won't they tell us?

Building a smaller car park under Manly Oval is not the solution according to Cr Candy Bingham following another workshop by Councillors.  "It's a typical example of a committee designing a horse", she said.

Today's Sydney Morning Herald has run an article about resident's concerns over the financial risk associated with the  proposed Oval Car Park and raises questions about certain links to the Oval.

See story here - it's worth a read!

In a front page story published in the Manly Daily on 13th September, 2014 it is clear that the Car Park proposal is not supported by the Resident Precinct Groups either.  See story here

The North Harbour Precinct  lodged a formal complaint to the NSW Ombudsman on 8th September, 2014 citing "the lack of due process by the General Manager of the Council in providing the precinct residents with information that has been requested by the residents about a Car Park Proposal that is part of the Manly2015 Masterplan as well as not consulting with the residents about their views."  Visit their website for more information.

While the recent Council resolution to delay lodging a development application (DA) to proceed with the controversial Oval car park has been welcomed by the Independent Councillors Candy Bingham, Barabara Aird, Hugh Burns and Cathy Griffin, it is clear that the 5-4 deadlock will take some time to resolve.

A series of workshops have been scheduled to give the Councillors time to work through the issues. Clr Candy Bingham, while pleased by the delay, questions whether the correct process has been followed.

“In my opinion the process has been flawed from the start.  Although the Manly 2015 Vision has been on Council’s agenda since 2008, the Good for Manly group were the only Council candidates who took a stand on the Oval car park in the lead-up to the Council elections in 2012. 

“Nowhere in the Liberal campaign materials was the Oval car park or Manly 2015 mentioned, even though the project had been put on hold by the previous Council,” she said.

Without any resolution to proceed, the newly-elected Liberal dominated Council launched the 2015 Vision and in particular the construction of a car park under Manly Oval.

This month, following a mixed response from the Office of Local Government regarding the capital expenditure of the project, the Council administration recommended that the car park move to a DA, even before any design plans had been developed, or discussed by Councillors or the community.

During its term, the Council has remained divided over the car park proposal.   The Mayor, Jean Hay, has responded to concerns about the lack of community consultation by stating that “this is the most consulted project Manly Council has ever done …”. However it is the Council’s response, or lack of it, to community feedback and questions that has caused major concern. As has the Council’s refusal to provide copies of relevant due diligence reports to Councillors.

“The lack of transparency is a furphy being promoted by the opponents of the Plan,” according to the Mayor at a recent Council meeting. 

Thousands in the community would disagree.  As would the nine Resident Precinct groups which still have not had their concerns and questions regarding the financial viability of the project addressed.

In the meantime the Councillor workshops will provide a truce for now, with both sides hoping that the other will ‘come to their senses’ and vote their way.

The likelihood of that happening is as remote as finding a parking spot in Manly during a busy summer weekend.

UPDATE:  Clr Bingham's motion to stop the Oval car park was lost 5 - 4 but the matter has been delayed.  A Councillor workshop is to be scheduled to discuss further.
=========================================================
The Office of Local Government (OLG) has now responded to Manly Council's submission to build a $34m car park under Manly Oval.

Late Friday 1st August 2014, Councillors received notice of an Extraordinary Meeting for the following Monday 4th August, to vote on the matter.

There has been no public notification of this extraordinary meeting by Council, which will take place after the scheduled Planning & Strategy Meeting which commences at 7.30pm.

The response from the Office of Local Government (below) is ambiguous enough for either side to state that they are right.  For example the Council highlights "..the office of Local Government's capital expenditure criteria have been broadly met" , while those concerned about the project and Good For Manly focus on comments such as "While primary concerns have been addressed, I note the significant complexity and risks associated with the project"   and "I would draw the Council's attention to these concerns:

1. the viability of the project .....
2. the ability to achieve long term cost of debt at 5%
3. the potential impact of unforeseen cost increases

The response also says: "It is important to note that the response from the OLG should not be construed to be an endorsement of the Manly Oval Car Park".

The OLG response and the Staff recommendation to proceed with the DA for the car park are below:

According to Clr Candy Bingham, Manly Council is misleading the public by stating that the feedback they are receiving is positive towards the Manly 2015 Plan.

“Setting up an information  booth in Manly Plaza was an excellent idea although the feedback I’ve received from many who attended was that they couldn’t get their questions answered, and that most around them were not happy with the Oval car park component of the Plan”, she said.

This is backed up by a recent poll asking residents and business owners whether they supported the building of the oval car park and the demolition of the Whistler Street car park.

“A total of 900 people have completed the poll.  75% disagree with the building of a car park under the oval; 71% disagree with demolishing the Whistler Street car park; 91.5% agree with the revitalising of the laneways and 82% agreed that these issues should be taken to a referendum so residents can have their say”, Clr Bingham said.  The Poll was promoted extensively by as well as Good for Manlythe Chamber of Commerce and some Manly Precinct groups .

This compares to the Council’s statement that “68 people made written comments at the information booth” – although it’s not clear what type of comments they were.

The Council has also ignored the Precinct Resident Groups, all of which have stated that they are not yet convinced that the Oval Car Park is a viable project for Manly.

“What’s the rush?  While the concept of pedestrianising Manly and revitalising the laneways is popular, the real question of whether the high risk components of the oval car park project have been accurately assessed remains a concern”, Clr Bingham concluded.

You can complete the poll here
You can view the poll results as at 28 July below.

You could be forgiven for not knowing what Manly Council's Manly 2015 Plan currently entails - even the Councillors don't seem to know!

The Plan, which at its core involves the construction of a car park under Manly Oval, seems to change regularly, without any reference to the Councillors.  What is the latest plan for the LIbrary - does it stay or does it go?  Does the sale of the Whistler Street car park include the area in front where disabled parking currently is? Does the Council own the oval under which the car park is to be built or are they selling a major asset to pay for another asset under Crown Land?

The Combined Precinct Group (representing the 8 active resident precinct groups in Manly) has worked hard to obtain answers from Council and this has been progressing.  However at a recent meeting of the Group it became clear that many important questions still had not been answered (see copy of questions below) and therefore the Combined Precinct Group  are  still unable to support the Oval car park concept.

In the meantime the Council has been busy running further 'information sessions' in the newly named Manly Plaza.  The display and concept video were excellent  although feedback has been that on many occasions staff present were not able to answer questions.  In addition,  a Manly2015 Bulletin has also been issued  (see copy below) which provides more technical detail.

While the concept of pedestrianising Manly and revitalising the laneways is popular, the real question of whether the high risk components of the oval car park project have been accurately assessed remains a concern.  And  the question still remains: will locals continue to come to Manly if the parking is less convenient and further away?

You can follow the Manly 2015 Plan issue here

THE MANLY 2015 PLAN PROCESS

Just How Open & Transparent has it been?

1.   In November 2011 the Mayor Jean Hay wrote to those who had made submissions re Manly 2015, saying that “Despite what you may hear to the contrary, no formal or final decisions have been reached, nor will they be, until Council receives a report from staff on the exhibition process over the next month.”  No such report was submitted to a Council meeting.

2.   Major changes were made to the vehicular entry/exit plans for the proposed car park under Manly Oval without a report to Council.

3.   The resolution of the previous Council on the 4th June 2012 that “no new funds or resources are to be raised and/or allocated to the Manly 2015 proposal unless or until the Council to be elected in September 2012 formally resolves to do so” was not reported to, nor formally resolved, by the new Council

4.   In October 2012 KPMG was engaged to carry out a financial and commercial review of the Village Centre and Manly Oval car park elements of the Manly 2015 proposal, without a report to the new Council.

5.   Clr Candy Bingham’s request for access to the KPMG report, which resulted in lodging a formal GIPA request to Council, was refused, and this refusal was only overturned after intervention by the Office of Local Government some four month later.

6.   ‘The Fact Sheet’ published on Council’s website and printed brochure following the adoption of the 2013-2023 Long Term Financial Plan advised that “Manly 2015 has been independently assessed by TCorp (NSW Treasury)”. This claim was incorrect and subsequently removed from the website, but Council refused to publish an explanation or apology.

7.   Despite the Council resolution of 3 June 2013 that the preservation of the Whistler Street Triangle and Manly Oval components in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan were subject to “Acknowledgement that Manly 2015 is a master plan requiring the Council to make progressive decisions on each of the components that form the final plan”, a Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) application for approval of borrowings for the construction of the Oval car park was submitted to the Office of Local Government without a prior report to Council and before Councillors had access to the due diligence reports.

8.   Inclusion on the agenda of Clr Bingham’s Notice of Motion requesting reports to Council prior to the lodging of any DA or the advertising of any tender in relation to the Manly Oval car park proposal was refused, twice, on the grounds of alleged pecuniary and non- pecuniary interest. This was not only unlawful, but incorrect.

9.   There has been conflicting answers provided regarding the proposed source of funding for a car park under Manly Oval; how revenue will be generated; how the proceeds from the sale of the Whistler Street carpark will be used. Although the original 2015 Plan has substantially changed no reports have been submitted to Council on the current Plan

In fact, since the Manly 2015 proposal was first placed on exhibition, there has not been a single progress report submitted to a formal meeting of Council.*

*Council’s practice has been to brief councillors in workshops, which are held quarterly.  The information from these workshops is marked ‘confidential’ and nothing is placed on the public record.

Perhaps even more concerning is that this systemic approach of not making public relevant information, (even to the Councillors),  has also been used on all other major projects before Council including the $15m New Leisure Swim Centre and building of a Polo Pool,  and the Little Manly Foreshore land debacle.

Does this sound like open & transparent government to you?

A simple survey undertaken by the Good For Manly group clearly shows that locals don’t want a car park built under Manly Oval.

Circulated widely, including by the Chamber of Commerce  who support the Oval car park, the survey asked four simple questions.  So far 754 people have responded with a clear message: No Oval Car Park 75.20%, Keep Whistler Street Car Park 71.58%, Revitalise the laneways in Manly 92.30%, Have a referendum to decide 81.00%.

Strong opposition is building against Manly Council’s 2015 Plan that has at its core the demolition of the centrally located Whistler Street car park and the building of a $34million new car park under Manly Oval. This week former Mayors of Manly, Sue Sacker  and Peter Macdonald,  publicly came out against the project.

“The community are angry.  They don’t believe they have been listened to by Manly Council.  Despite hundreds of letters against the Oval car park project, a public meeting attended by 400 people, 8 out of the 9 active resident precinct groups voting strongly against the car park and complaints lodged with Mike Baird’s office, the Liberal majority on the Council seem hell-bent on pushing this through”, claimed Independent Councillor, Candy Bingham.

The four independent Councillors, Clrs Barbara Aird, Candy Bingham, Hugh Burns and Cathy Griffin, submitted independent expert reports to the Office of Local Government raising serious questions about the viability of the Manly 2015 Plan.

“We have come to the conclusion that Manly Council is under estimating the financial cost, construction risk, and community opinion, and over estimating its own ability.”  Clr Bingham said.

A final assessment on the Oval Car Park project is expected to be received from the Office of Local Government shortly.

It is interesting to note that the Chamber of Commerce has changed their position, now publicly suggesting members 'ignore the negative campaign' against the project. Nonetheless we wish to acknowledge and thank the President, Mark Stanley, who organised a Meeting of Stakeholders with Council's experts to address unanswered questions. Good for Manly had two representatives present.  (See minutes below for more detail.)

The majority of Manly Resident  Precinct Groups however still seem firmly against the Oval car park (although like most they support the regeneration of the laneways.)  A number of precincts believe the Oval car park  project should be the subject of a referendum at the next Council election.

Manly's four independent Councillors remain concerned about the viability and impact of the proposed car park project which includes the demolition of the well-used Whistler Street car park. Councillors Aird, Bingham, Burns and Griffin have this week forwarded a final response to the Office of Local Government , who are reviewing the capital expenditure.  A detailed submission, including advice from independent experts, has also been submitted.  See copies below:

Yes, we know you have probably already attended a public meeting; sent an email; signed a petition; written to the editor of the Manly Daily and Mike Baird ...BUT - It isn't over yet!

PLEASE EMAIL TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS:    [email protected] - attn Mayor & Councillors

EMAIL MIKE BAIRD, Premier & Local Member: [email protected]

Write to the Manly Daily: [email protected]