Missing pieces
Council officers plunked seven different council office jigsaw boxes in residents’ and councillors’ laps last Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The boxes were big - 2000 pieces each box.
Each box had a label that read: ‘Resident financed. Designed over 1860 days behind closed doors by council officers under guidance. Councillor observers gagged. Government made.’
Each box was accompanied by a scant council officers’ GovHub report prepared for the February 20 Council Meeting that guides readers on how to assemble each jigsaw.
Council gave residents six days to assemble seven complex jigsaws and then tell their councillors the best option. Council would then commit millions of residents’ dollars and council officer time to complete the collective winner to full scale.
Not all residents received the jigsaws.
The first box had no pieces at all.
The second box contained sawdust.
The third had over 50 per cent of the pieces in a brown paper bag marked ‘Confidential. Do not open’.
The fourth had only 500 pieces; 1500 pieces missing.
A note from council read, “Council might release some of the remaining pieces in dribs and drabs over the coming years”.
The fifth had 2000 pieces but nearly half didn’t match.
The sixth had all the pieces and a large note telling residents ‘Do not assemble”.
The seventh? You guessed it. The jigsaw was already assembled and boldly titled, “The winner!”
The enclosed mayor, council chief executive, and parliamentarians’ note read, “See how easy it is. You don’t have to think. We respect good people who pay and we lead.”
Councillors, good governance must be transparent and accountable.
You know there is a better way to handle council office consolidation.
Ted Coleman, Strathfieldsaye
Read more:
Positive effect
I am encouraged by the proposed development of a Bendigo GovHub, a building in the northern end of the CBD that would be similar in size to The Bendigo Centre.
The investment would be yet another positive step that demonstrates the value of our innovative and growing city.
The proposal reminds me of our bank’s own experience of developing a large-scale building just over 10 years ago and the many benefits that came from doing this.
This investment saw staff who were previously spread across five buildings come together into the one complex and at the same time also created a prosperous business and community hub that many in the city benefit from today.
The move created jobs and improved our working environment, with our customers being the ultimate beneficiaries.
By centralising as one team, we also removed any organisational silos, which has fostered greater collaboration and a high-performance culture, improved productivity and allowed people to build stronger relationships with colleagues in a flexible workspace.
I would expect the creation of a Bendigo GovHub to have a similar positive impact on Bendigo’s economy through the creation of jobs and adding new vibrancy to the northern CBD.
In the same way our customers benefited from our investment in the Bendigo Centre, City of Greater Bendigo citizens also stand to benefit from improved customer service and better outcomes for the local economy.
Marnie Baker, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank managing director
Letters must carry the name, full address and telephone number of the author. The writer’s name and suburb/town will be published. We reserve the right to edit letters. Letters which are deemed inappropriate will not be published.Send letters to Bendigo Advertiser, PO Box 61, Bendigo 3552 or click here to submit one online.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.