MY question to mayor Andrew Lee was simple enough: “Would you consider a ratepayer poll to decide the issue over the $40m indoor sports centre?”
The question was raised many weeks after City Council gave its support to seek funding from federal and state governments for an indoor sports centre.
This followed the presentation of a petition with 10,008 signatures, albeit from many areas outside Mount Gambier, supporting an indoor centre.
However, the backlash that followed was built on the view society had its priorities wrong and $40m for an indoor centre was putting sport ahead of other more urgent community needs.
Rate rises were predicted as a result of the $10m loan contribution by city council and then of course running costs of an estimated $1.5m/year over 40 years also grabbed people’s attention.
It started as a one-sided argument with seemingly the majority in favour of the project but as each day passes, comments on social media and around the city show it is facing increasing opposition.
When I posed the question to Mr Lee last week he said if enough people contacted him or councillors to express views opposing an indoor centre he would take that message to council and ask councillors if they would agree to a ratepayers’ poll.
Of course councillors do not have to agree with this request, but as I told him, it is the only way to clear the air and come to a fair and just decision for all ratepayers – after all it’s their rates which pay the bills.
If ratepayers do not get the opportunity to vote on this issue and the project goes ahead it will forever face a controversial and toxic future.
A poll is a clear way to bring fairness to this issue and whatever the outcome, both sides will walke away knowing they have had a fair go from city council.
For those who claim a poll may come at a cost, the mayor previously told me a ratepayer poll could be done at little cost with the project’s financial details being included in rate notices, along with a box to signify whether they are in favour or not.
Regardless of how it could happen, councillors will not act unless they hear ratepayer’s views.
This is no time for apathy, so if you have a strong view on the centre, make it known to the mayor, councillors or council web site, but particularly ask that a ratepayers’ poll be called.
Meanwhile, within days Member for Barker Tony Pasin is expected to secure next stage approval for $20m funding from the Federal Government to help pay for the proposed centre.
Mr Pasin has been keen on this project for some time but when he completed his local survey on what people in his electorate rated, I cannot recall an indoor sports centre being anywhere in the top 10.
The indoor pool might have been, but heading the list was health, education and jobs, not necessary in that order.
Interestingly, many are angry the indoor pool has been hijacked by other sports and now if the community wants an indoor pool it must support a $40m indoor sports centre.
And in regard to the government committee which makes the decision on the $20m handout, let’s hope someone has the common sense to question Mount Gambier’s priorities and why it is considering spending $40m on a sports centre and not on other community areas?
Questions must be asked why sport has “jumped the queue” and why our civic leaders have misplaced their priorities?
Let’s get our priorities right.
As one example, every day, local people are referred to various medical centres involving much travelling and cost, so imagine what $20m-$40m would do to our hospital services.
That is what we should be talking about, not a sports centre.
While health is the top priority for most people, MPs and councillors are backing a sports centre which caters for only a few sports and a minority of the local population.
A poll is the only way to find the majority view.
