GAWLER Council will spend close to an extra $25,000 to renovate a privately-owned piece of land adjoining Walker Place, itself currently undertaking a $2.3 million revamp.

At council’s ordinary meeting last week, elected members discussed an update to the redevelopment of Walker Place, which began in February.

The report included information about a small, privately owned area outside of the Subway and Poetic Justice premises alongside Walker Place, currently used by the latter as an alfresco dining area.

Council had approached the owners of the two buildings to contribute $14,000 to a $25,000 renovation of the space, to keep it in line with the revamped space around it, but were rebuffed.

Both owners were asked to make a counter-offer of what they would like to contribute to the project, with one saying the COVID-19 pandemic meant he lacked the finances to contribute, while the second never replied to council following the initial refusal.

At last week’s meeting, elected members were split five-to-five on whether to entirely fund renovating the area, with Mayor Karen Redman using her casting vote to approve the spending.

The report noted money to renovate the space was included in the project budget, but endorsing the revamp without private contribution would “set a precedent”.

“It is noted that the inclusion of the works would set a precedent for future council projects, whereby private property/land owners may seek to leverage full council funding of the Walker Place private ‘common area’ as a rationale for council funding other works on private land adjacent to council projects,” the report read.

During debate councillor Kelvin Goldstone moved that council do fund the entirety of the works, saying it “doesn’t make sense” not to completely finish the project.

“You’re going to have a nice new area and you’re going to have that bit on the side that’s never going to get done,” he said.

“I accept the fact that it’s privately owned land… but it will look like it’s not finished in my mind if we don’t get the work done now.”

Councillor Brian Sambell spoke against the motion though, saying the council would be better off spending the money somewhere else.

“I am stunned hearing elected members tonight,” he said.

“How many have actually been down there and seen the spot we were going to give $25,000 to? Give it to the people who have spent no money on it for the last five years.”