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2015 Due Diligence Reports Released

22/12/2013

An architect's impression of the new library building.

Three working days before Christmas Manly Council has released its independent reports in relation to the feasibility of their Manly 2015 multi-million dollar Plan. At its core, the Plan features the demolition of the Whistler Street car park and Manly Library, and the construction of a car park under Manly Oval.

The Oval car park planl has been particularly controversial with the Manly Chamber of Commerce and all resident precinct groups raising concerns about the financial viability of the proposal.

Below are a copy of the Traffic Demand Study for the Oval Car Park, the Economic Retail Study, and the final report from KPMG which is based on information provided from the studies and Manly Council.

Good for Manly's team of financial experts are reviewing the reports and we hope to have an assessment soon.
In the meantime, it is of concern that Manly Council plans to submit its Capital Expenditure report to the Division of Local Government in January to proceed with the project before the elected Council members have had an opportunity to meet and discuss the findings. (The next Council meeting is 10 February 2014).

You can view Manly Council's assessment of the reports here.

_oval_car_park_demand_study.pdf
File Size:	598 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

economic_assessment_.pdf
File Size:	2362 kb
File Type:	pdf

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kpmg_2015_commercial_review_.pdf
File Size:	1915 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

5 Comments

Mark O'Brien link

23/12/2013 09:02:10 am

This whole covert agenda to bulldoze both the Whistler St car park and the whole community to ram this ridiculously extravagant plan through under the radar is scary.
You know that it's a rotten and potentially irregular plan when they suddenly -and desperately- release a 15 year old fire-safety report into the Whistler Street car park to the Manly Daily as a justification to reconstruct the entire block.

If they really want to responsibly open up the back lanes all they need do is dismantle the ugly clock tower and exit stairs from upstairs at the library to open up that whole plaza.

If Stella Maris school can pretty-up the old Fishos site with minimal screens and painting and a little landscaping, then your (Candy Bingham's) alternate plans for the car park look eminently feasible as an alternative to Council's demolition plans.

Why is no one asking "which developers" and "what exactly is being built" in place of a perfectly OK library and offices and car park?

And why is Council forecasting that all entry to the new car park would be paid for (no 2 hour free period as now).

And I always thought Manly Council claimed to be environmentally green and clean, but unnecessary construction is one of the most carbon-intensive activities they could do and seems so at odds with their normal Green stance to recycle, reuse and reduce.

Coming on top of massive community resistance to the recent Boy Charlton Pool development which no regular pool user seems to want and will cost close to $15m straight after the last redevelopment there, I'm seriously wondering where all the moolah is coming from that they can splash it around so freely.

I'm really worried about this Council and its lack of accountability, underhand ways, and potential for corruption until we can get some clear answers on why and who.

Mark O'Brien

23/12/2013 12:06:02 pm

in fairness to Manly Council, having read the financial review for the new oval car park, they have now coated in the same 2hrs free parking as current and I'm thrilled to see that KPMG recommend against it on poor IRR grounds.

Now we need to be told who is developing the library...is it being "sold" or leased to developers...and when did it become Council's job to build up to 50 new apartments in central Manly?

30/12/2013 09:05:59 am

It just seems this project is being pushed through for reasons that are not being made perfectly clear to the public. My biggest concerns are:
1) funding seems very conservative to build car park,
2) management of the project
3) Most importantly, the entire thing results in a NET LOSS of car parking in Manly, which is strange for a project designed to encourage people to come here.
Add to the net loss of parking and then ask any woman you know if they would feel OK to use an underground car park with underground walkway at night....I've struck a 100% flat NO so far.
I'm not sure I'd bet the future of Manly's business without 50% of the population wanting to drive there (still the preferred transport mode!)

30/12/2013 09:06:32 am

It just seems this project is being pushed through for reasons that are not being made perfectly clear to the public. My biggest concerns are:
+ funding seems very conservative to build car park,
+ management of the project
+ Most importantly, the entire thing results in a NET LOSS of car parking in Manly, which is strange for a project designed to encourage people to come here.
Add to the net loss of parking and then ask any woman you know if they would feel OK to use an underground car park with underground walkway at night....I've struck a 100% flat NO so far.
I'm not sure I'd bet the future of Manly's business without 50% of the population wanting to drive there (still the preferred transport mode!)

Claire Hopkins link

27/7/2023 09:16:34 pm

Thank youu for sharing this

2015 Due Diligence Reports Released

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