Should the majority - indeed any of the current serving City of Greater Bendigo councillors, the duly elected representatives off the residents and most importantly ratepayers - let the CEO Craig Niemann and other so called 'managers' on the COGB gravy train 'off the hook' by not being open and transparent in advising the truth as to the full financial cost of a virtual dead grey elephant, I do not believe any councillors that allow such to occur are either; worth their salt, or, re-election should they stand again. There is one matter that may have relevance, legal action by COGB against contractor(s) resulting in a possible ‘out of court settlement', whereby neither party is permitted to disclose the amount of settlement. But, that would not stop COGB from releasing a statement along the lines of: 'The final costs of the mall amounted to X amount of dollars, however that was decreased by some amount(s)awarded by legal settlement from contractor(s) that cannot be divulged.’ But after the legal eagles have feasted, will COGB costs of litigation justify the means? Some people have claimed in recent times COGB is a joke! I agree. How tragic the joke is so serious.

Robert how can one expect the C.E.O. Craig Niemann to be open and transparent with the people of the community of Bendigo, when he is just a chip off the old block of the last C.E.O John McLean. The only way things will change is for the Councillors the clean out the dead wood at the top of the tree and start again. Have they got the gumption to carry out this task???

How many more under the table deals are going on, the rates have been raised but I cannot see where its all been spent. Let it be shown where the budget in its entirety going to be used so the people picking up the tab can decide whether its what We need. The malls a farce, the walks a farce, the inablility to make a decision is a farce.

Yes, Peter - as it stands the entire COGB is a farce - led by a seemingly untouchable CEO and councillors who follow him blindly, or who readily agree to maintain silence when asked, or is that instructed! I remind councillors they are supposed to represent residents of their wards and ratepayers - not the COGB CEO. Thank goodness there a few of us prepared to speak up, or write up, and put our names to words that will hopefully shame COGB and councillors to taking honest and appropriate action. But I am not holding my breath!

Really what is required is a properly conducted investigation. Concealment of public money amounts to criminal activity; in days gone by public servants who sought to conceal money issues and were discovered doing so faced a court of criminal inquiry. There is substantial case history in Victoria and other states of these instances. Admittedly most got off as you would expect due to improper government intervention, but today public servants can be prosecuted as legislation is in place for this to occur. Senior council employees throughout Eastern Victoria tend to have acquired employment by being members of the government party and knowing the right people; in few instances are they people acceptable to rate payers. This explains the high turnover of personnel in local government; they wind up in check over some project or dealing; the kitchen gets too hot so they effectively get allocated in another council where often the process starts all over again. When will we ever learn!