I believe the intended action against those employed to do the work is no more than a smokescreen to cover the city’s inadequacies.

The final cost is expected to run out at about $7 million – years late and millions over budget.

It is no wonder the council and its officers want this to die a quiet death.

I have in the past asked the CEO and councillors to tell us what major projects have been delivered on time and on budget.

To date, they have failed to respond and have failed the Bendigo people.

With major projects such as the botanic gardens, the multi-storey car park, the Kangaroo Flat pool complex, the arts and Chinese precinct still to go, one can only imagine the tens of millions of dollars we are still to see in blow-outs.

The one good thing is that we can expect with a certain level of certainty that we will continue for many years getting the same level of improvements in and around our wards – that is practically nothing!

This council and the executive should own up to their mistakes and take responsibily for them, or ratepayer dissatisfaction levels will only continue to rise.

STUART SYMES,

Bendigo Action Group,

Epsom