I RECENTLY emailed all Barossa councillors asking if they supported the Lyndoch Recreation Centre Project.
Only one replied, others allowing the mayor to respond.
Quotes and issues raised as follows:
“Following council approval, a development application was lodged, and a period of public consultation (including the release of a public notice) was held from February 27, 2024 to March 19, 2024.”
From minutes of ordinary council meeting, May 21, 2024: Lyndoch Recreation Park Project Scope and Costing Update.
“The C.E.O briefed council that one further specification change was recommended, to increase the lighting level to 750 lux.
“This was raised subsequent to the issuing of the agenda and will facilitate greater use and event capacity for the site and Cricket Australia has committed to support the majority of the cost.
“The Big Project is council’s long term, intergenerational strategy for community infrastructure redevelopment. Its strategic vision touches upon four key areas of service:
- Sport, recreation
- Culture, arts, heritage, history
- Aquatics
- Cycling, adventure and leisure.
“(This) redevelopment is one of the first phase priorities.”
Minutes of Special Barossa Development Panel, March 26, 2024: Character Preservation.
“Pursuant to Section 6(2) of Character Preservation (B.V.) Act 2012, (this) panel has had regard to the Act and has resolved that there are no significant impacts on the character values of the district.”
Please note, the only councillor on this panel, was an apology.
Comments from my responding councillor include:
“The idea of a major infrastructure project to modernise community facilities utilising intergenerational indebtedness while interest rates were at a record low began at least 12 years ago.”
“What council could not share earlier this year, was the State Government being prepared to spend $20m at Lyndoch if council matched it. The Government imposed strict confidentiality on this, not council.”
What transparent, responsible, professional council could possibly spend and attract $40m using its ratepayers’ money, with investment partners including Cricket Australia and who knows who else?
When despite the new SA hospital, there’s an acute bed shortage with ambulance ramping at emergency levels, $40m would go a long way towards a new Barossa hospital.
This is not the council I was born and lived with ‘til recently. I’m ashamed to live with a council who appears to have lost its true democratic way and chosen to put a sporting facility before “shaping our physical and emotional wellbeing together”.
Tim Barritt, Lyndoch
