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UPDATE - 13/12/11. At last night's council meeting the Council voted to continue with the process of the 2015 Plan. The next step is a workshop for all Councillors in February where the next phase, being a commitment to proceed with legal, property and financial advice to progressing the Plan, will be discussed. Quoted in the Manly Daily Mayor Jean Hay said it was premature to abandon the concept when the plans were still in an early concept and consultation phase. Read the full story in the Manly Daily.
Motion by Councillor Richard Morrison to abandon Manly 2015 Plan. At council's meeting on Monday night (12/12/11) a motion will be discussed to abandon Manly's 2015 Plan. Here is a copy of the background information provided by Councillor Morrison from the meeting's Agenda: "Background Manly Council's adopted Long Term Financial Plan identifies a shortfall of $2.8 Million per annum in funds required to maintain and renew existing infrastructure. The MANLY2015 Financial Projections Report indicates that the proposal would commit us to a total expenditure of $83.75 Million, which is 118% percent of our expenditure budget for the current year. The New South Wales State Government is committed to a total expenditure of $1.03 Billion of public funds on the Barangaroo project. This is only1.7% of the State’s expenditure budget for the current year. The MANLY2015 Financial Projections Report indicates that we would need to borrow a total of $68.75 Million for the proposed works. This would add $4.8 Million to our annual interest bill. A major feature of the Barangaroo project is the construction of three commercial towers that will provide almost 300,000 square meters of new office space in Sydney to house 24,000 workers, and 15,000 square meters of new retail space. Each tower will have fewer than 200 car spaces, and a combined total of 1,200 bicycle spaces are proposed, as part of plans to minimise car trips and promote alternative transport. The Whistler Street Car Park has 357 perfectly serviceable and conveniently located car spaces. Many of the property owners and businesses in the vicinity, who in past years contributed to the Manly Parking Fund, would suffer if the Whistler Street Car Park was lost to them. The proposal for the Car Park under Manly Oval will not provide convenient parking for local businesses and shoppers, and the proposal is beset with vehicle access and traffic problems. The purpose built Manly Library is still virtually a new building. The proposal to demolish it and replace it in the same locality at a cost of $17.8 Million is neither financially responsible nor environmentally sustainable. The MANLY2015 proposal is unaffordable and the concept is fundamentally flawed. It has no demonstrated business or community support, and no prospect of successful implementation." WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD THE PLAN TO ABANDONED?
11 Comments
A Roper
9/12/2011 10:14:47 am
I hope the plan gets abandoned. To me there isn't a lot in it that benefits the local resident or local businesses. Every thing seems geared toward visitors and we don't need to cater to them. They'll come no matter what because of the location. I've lived in Manly for 20 years and frankly, I'm happy with it the way it is.
Wayne Collins
9/12/2011 10:30:55 am
R Turner
9/12/2011 10:31:19 am
Given that the Manly2015 plan hinges on the unpopular, uneconomic, unfeasible & environmentally unfriendly 800 space carpark beneath Manly oval, perhaps it's time to realise that this "grand plan" should be dropped or at least re-thought. 9/12/2011 10:41:33 am
After much consideration I made my views known in my letter to the Mayor dated 10 November 2010. The overall plan has far too many negatives and exceeds the financial ability of a small municipal council such as Manly and its ratepayers and residents. From a financial perspective alone this plan could only proceed if there was guaranteed State/Federal capital grants in the region of $60m - and this is just never going to happen. And then there are the questionable components!
Jud LeVine
9/12/2011 11:33:39 am
I agree that the plan is too expensive, too radical, environmentally unfriendly, and without benefit to (and indeed to the detriment of) of local residents. Manly is mostly terrific as is and the problems which do exist should be approached more pragmatically and economically, with major input from the local residents and voters. Indeed, it is the people who live in Manly whose needs should be considered first; Manly is a community and not a theme park. I hope the Councillors support Cr Morrison's motion.
Jozy Sutton
9/12/2011 10:59:50 pm
It was with great relief that I read that there is even a suggestion that this plan be abandoned as it is. Its only merit was in revamping the laneways, which can be done gradually without expensive and possibly disaterous schemes like a carpark in a flood zone and a theme-park tram where there is no room for it. We love it now, visitors love it now (always have and always will, it is lovely as it is). Spend the money on keeping it nice, an improvement here and there as it is needed, not a great crippling outlay of money we don't have.
Hania
9/12/2011 11:50:54 pm
This plan is excessive but we do need to find solutions that are viable for all of Manly locals and tourists alike
Lisle
10/12/2011 11:23:55 am
Anyone who understood last year's Ombudsman's Report relating to procedures, etc., at Manly Council realised this was a planned diversion to take the community's attention off the Report. Remember the Mayor tabled the Ombudsman's Report at the October 11, 2010 Council Meeting. Then surprise, surprise, Manly 2015 was launched early in November with all its glossly brochures and visuals, but without providing the figures.
R Tanner
11/12/2011 03:05:05 am
I completely agree with Councillor Richard Morrison that the Manly 2015 Plan be abandoned.
Aida Copeland
11/12/2011 08:45:40 am
I urge the council to abandon the 2015 plan. I completely agree with Councillor Richard Morrison motion
D. Stewart
12/12/2011 03:44:46 am
It certainly seems that from a financial point of view the plan is not feasible,and there seems little point in committing the Council and it's ratepayers to a Plan which is not achievable without significant external financial support(which would come at a cost)and the outcome of which would be of dubious benefit to the community Leave a Reply. |
AuthorCandy Bingham, Deputy Mayor & Manly Ward Councillor on Northern Beaches Council. Background in marketing, public relations and community engagement. Author of five business books. Former Lady Mayoress of Sydney. Aka Candy Tymson. ........................................
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