EVERY now and again in a crisis or controversy someone comes out of the woodwork to produce a statesman-like approach in a bid to resolve an issue.
Sometimes it takes courage, sometimes common sense and sometimes an ability to bring people together so a resolution can be found and society can move on.
Today it occurred when Member for Barker Tony Pasin and Mount Gambier Member Troy Bell combined to call for a ratepayers poll to be undertaken by council before proceeding with the $40m indoor sports centre.
What is important is that Mr Pasin has some clout because without his vigorous lobbying the project will not get the $20m federal funding needed to underpin it.
Similarly, Mr Bell will not lobby State Government until there is certainty surrounding the support of the project.
What made Mr Pasin arrive at his decision was because he has been out-and-about in the community and has heard the rumblings coming from unhappy ratepayers who are opposed to spending so much money on a sports centre.
In other words, Mr Pasin has had the common sense to not only hear the tom toms beating but recognised this project would be doomed forever to controversy, perhaps even a toxic or tainted future, similar to the Main Corner, if ratepayers’ views were not tested by a poll.
Mr Pasin said he was keen to welcome a community-based decision on this project – which it always should have been.
His statesman-like actions mean city ratepayers may get a fair go to express their views, providing clear air so that once a majority vote is achieved everyone can move on.
The mayor Andrew Lee has previously said a poll would come at little cost, which should allay any fears Mr Pasin has, but also if council is prepared to spend $40,000 for an architect’s design, and if it is about fairness, which a poll will provide, then cost is not an issue.
What is interesting is how Mr Pasin’s assessment and actions concerning the situation differs from Mr Lee.
Mr Pasin did what Mr Lee did not do.
However, the mayor’s comments today suggest he still will not agree to a poll.
Several weeks ago I put the question to Mr Lee about a ratepayer’s poll and he said he would consider it if enough people told him of their opposition to the project.
The point is, Mr Pasin heard the rumblings and acted – he did not need prompting.
It leaves open the question whether Mr Lee would ever have considered a poll and why is he against providing fairness to this argument through a poll?
It is known the mayor and most councillors are in favour of the centre, but they now know without calling a poll Mr Pasin is not going to risk funding a project which has divided the community.
So the mayor and council now have a choice – act quickly and get a ratepayer’s poll up-and-running before they go into “caretaker mode” or risk not having Mr Pasin’s full support and lobbying to win the $20m federal funding.
It is obvious some councillors have chosen to ignore the community unrest over this project, hoping it would go away – it has not.
It is understood council is seething over Mr Pasin’s stand, but that is what happens when you rush ahead without funding approval and do not take on-board views from all sections of the community.
With a project costing $40m it is unbelievably naïve of council and the mayor to think the community “engagement” should be only through consultation meetings which never reveal the real heartbeat of the public.
What is the mayor and council frightened of – the fact that ratepayers will have a say?
On this issue council has ignored and left out a section of the community by denying them a voice – a say in something they will pay for over the next 40 years.
The community backlash suggests they will not cop any further arrogance from council and now councillors have a choice – call a poll or risk having no funding.
Mr Pasin’s actions showed strong leadership and a poll will provide a clear way forward.
He has listened, acted and should be applauded.
