Mayor Peter Cox has been handed almost 2500 surveys overwhelmingly rejecting council’s decision to demolish the Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre.
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The surveys, commissioned by Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards, were handed over ahead of a meeting between council and the Kangaroo Flat Community Leisure Centre Committee, to take place on Wednesday afternoon.
Of the 10,000 voluntary surveys sent out, Ms Edwards received 2435 responses.
More than 82 per cent of respondents were in favour of keeping the leisure centre.
Ms Edwards said it was the best result of any survey she had done, and she normally expected a 10 per cent response rate.
“This clearly indicates that the consultation process was a sham, and (council) never engaged with the Kangaroo Flat community,” Ms Edwards said.
“All I'm doing is what the council should have done four years ago and finding out what the Kangaroo Flat community wanted.”
“It is ultimately council's decision, and I have always said that, but having now received all this information, I think it's important and imperative that council take it into consideration.”
“My stance is that the $15 million from the state government is on the table for this project, and it's imperative that we get it right and it's imperative that the people Kangaroo Flat, where this aquatic centre is located, are the beneficiaries.”
Cr Cox said he was “disappointed” the results had come in at a “very late stage” in the process, claiming council had held “painstaking” consultations over the past four years.
Cr Cox said changing the plan now could span 12 to 18 months, jeopardise federal funding for the project, and said they had not been given clear evidence the site could accommodate the existing leisure centre, the new pool, the oval and adequate car parking.
He also expected a higher return on surveys – around 50 or 60 per cent – if sentiment was “really strong” on the controversial local issue.
He said the survey alone would not sway council’s decision.
“Council doesn't make decisions on public opinion,” he said.
He said the meeting would demonstrate council has not “closed the door completely” and would listen to the committee’s point of view.
Cr Cox, when asked about what the survey indicated of the council’s own consultation process, said: “I don't think it says anything.”
“I thin that this project is a political interference...in other words, trying to influence council from a political standpoint rather than the wellbeing of the project,” he said.
“It puts me as mayor in a very difficult situation.”
Committee chair Don McKinnon was grateful for the “first real opportunity” to show council their architect’s alternative plan to keep the leisure centre on site, and said the group would be putting their best foot forward.
