Goulburn Mulwaree Council GM accuses councillor of questioning integrity

At Tuesday night's meeting councillors decided in closed session to support the sale in principle, but only after undertaking due diligence and striking a "fair market" price, plus $50,000 to ensure nil cost to the community. Three councillors voted against the move.

No decision on a sale will be made until the April 19 council meeting. A report by general manager Warwick Bennett will detail the result of sale negotiations, consultation with community groups currently occupying the building, the terms of a lease agreement to potentially accommodate them in ARTC buildings on Sloane Street and whether this could be practically done.

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Further, NSW Police will be asked to fund relocation of any water or sewer infrastructure needed for the new station's construction.

The decision followed an hour-long closed session discussion and an earlier tense exchange between Deputy Mayor Peter Walker and Mr Bennett in which the former had unsuccessfully called for a public meeting on the sale.

Cr Walker opposes the building's sell-off, arguing it is a valuable community asset.

He told the meeting he had been advised by Mr Bennett that a notice of motion, rather than a rescission motion should be lodged to reverse last month's decision enter into negotiations with NSW Police.

"I'm very disappointed I listened to some and not to others," he said.

"...On his suggestion I went this way. Unbeknownst to me I thought it would stop the process but it's not the case...I'm very disappointed," the Deputy Mayor said.

He told the meeting he felt "very let down."

But it sparked an angry response from Mr Bennett who said his integrity was being publicly questioned.

He said Cr Walker's initial rescission motion was "badly worded" and sought to overturn a recommendation, not a motion, as was required. Moreover, it was not rescinding anything. Mr Bennett said he provided guidance, drafted both a rescission motion and notice of motion to achieve what the deputy mayor wanted and asked him to choose which one he preferred. He chose the notice of motion.

"To have my integrity publicly questioned is not good enough and I ask for an apology in the same way Cr Walker asked me to withdraw a comment I made (last month)," he told the meeting.

"Do I get to say anything in regard to that outburst?" Cr Walker countered.

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Mayor Bob Kirk replied that he'd leave the pair to sort out their differences between themselves. On Wednesday, Mr Bennett said he hadn't received an apology and "didn't expect to get one." Cr Walker would not directly answer whether he had offered one but said he would "continue to work towards whether the building's sale was in the community's best interests."

His notice of motion called for formal public consultation and a community meeting before any decision was made to sell the vast building on the corner of Combermere and Bourke Streets.

"All negotiations for the sale of 2 Bourke Street must include the option of a long-term lease for the current police station which can be used as a community centre," the motion read.

The deputy mayor said neither the community nor councillors were receiving enough information to make an informed judgement.

"I think this is looking at a fast fix of getting rid of Bourke Street, getting the cash and moseying along. Well sorry, I don't sign off on things like that," Cr Walker said.

"I want more surety that we're making the right decision and that if groups are moved from there, it's not at the community's cost."

Goulburn U3A, Goulburn and District Arts Society and the Gem Club have 15-year leases, while other community groups such as the Historical Society and Lions Club also have agreements to use the space.

Cr Walker said it remained unclear how these could be accommodated in any of the five options put to councillors, including lease of ARTC buildings near the railway station in Sloane Street. He told The Post it could lead to groups being scattered, whereas the depot offered ample space for all. In addition, Cr Walker questioned the costs involved in adapting heritage buildings.

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He pointed out to councillors that they had previously resolved to establish a community centre at Bourke Street and to allocate $4 million in the budget for the project.

"This is prime land in a prime position that we can use for the community's betterment," he told the meeting.

But he lost the motion, with five councillors voting against. Mayor Bob Kirk said investigations would reveal more, no decisions had been made yet, and the council hadn't held public meetings to sell other parcels of land. Cr Alfie Walker also pointed out the council had previously voted to sell the depot to fund a shortfall for other projects. Cr Sam Rowland was an apology for the meeting.

NSW Police wants to build a more modern station. It has ruled out several other Goulburn sites and preferred Bourke Street due its location, proximity to the highway and court, parking area and potential for expansion. Mr Bennett said the Force required 6000 square metres and the depot was 11,300sqm.

Councillors last month rejected a purchase price and instead decided to enter into negotiations on a market price plus the cost of relocating tenants. In Tuesday's closed session they discussed a police request for a counter offer.

Cr Andrew Banfield initially sought to move discussion into open forum, saying there were no financial figures mentioned and if it were any other party making the purchase offer, the council would go to open tender to gain "fair market value."

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But he relented after Mr Bennett said it came down to NSW Police wanting to buy a community asset for an essential service. Moreover, he recommended closed talks so as not to prejudice a "negotiating position."

Despite the closed talks, minutes revealed Cr Banfield and Cr Margaret O'Neill unsuccessfully moved to place the property on the open market and call expressions of interest.

After the meeting, the GM said the council established a price partly based on an updated valuation last month.

"The issue is that we don't have to sell. It's preferred by police but the council believes there has to be some compensation if groups have to be relocated," he said.

"There are permanent residents there and rehousing them (on the same terms) is paramount...We have told police we are not moving on the price and sale of the property is on vacant possession (basis)."

Mr Bennett said he'd already had discussions with ARTC about leasing four buildings for less than $1000 per annum, provided the council footed upgrade costs. He expected this money to be recouped from the groups' nominal rents if it went ahead. A report will go to councillors in April.

Meantime, U3A Goulburn president Brian Spilsbury said the group was very happy at Bourke Street, which had ample space for their 45 courses, including lawn croquet. U3A, with its 250 students, has been in the building for two years.

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"It's perfect for our needs and it's hard to imagine where else we would go," he said.

"People here are angry that we've been given a 15-year lease and now all of that is uncertain."

The group supported calls for a public meeting.

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