EOI submissions on Exhibition - But Little Revealed

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.

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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.