Thank you Chair.
I rise to speak on Item C – Contracts and Tendering, and specially in relation to one of the contracts for a project in the Pullenvale Ward – the refurbishment of the Kenmore Community Centre at 98 Brookfield Road.
The awarding of this contract is a significant moment. It means there will be shovels in the ground in January next year with an anticipated completion date in June, weather permitting.
Hopefully, it will also mean an end to the negativity from the Federal Greens Member who has politicised this project against Council, despite knowing full well that there were processes that needed to be followed and extensive consultation to be undertaken.
Unlike her party, we don’t tell people what we think is good for them. We listen and act upon the feedback we receive.
Chair, it was more important that we took our time and liaised with all three of the tenants on the Brookfield Road site – Men’s Shed West, the Kenmore Bridge Club and e-Waste Connection – to establish their priorities and to see what could and couldn’t be done within the $1.6 million budget.
It was also important that we got this right to ensure that all three tenants benefited from the allocated funding.
After being briefed by Council officers a couple of weeks ago on the concept plan, I am in no doubt that we have equally “shared the love” between all three and in doing so, achieved maximum bang for our buck.
Chair, allow me to summarise the range of improvements that we are about to deliver for our three tenants.
- The Bridge Club will have an open playing space to accommodate 14 playing tables – more than what they currently have. A kitchen and a new ambulant toilet will be included, along with a new covered outdoor seating area.
- e-Waste Connection will have exclusive of the building opposite its existing workshop for additional office and storage space. A new ambulant toilet will also be included in their building.
- Men’s Shed will have a new dust extraction system installed and its kitchenette will be upgraded.
The building located between the Men’s Shed and the Bridge Club will be rebuilt and include a communal meeting space, card dealing room, an area for the Men’s Shed tech hub, a PWD toilet and two ambulant toilets.
Chair, finally some thank-you’s to those who have made this happen.
First, to the former Member for Ryan, Julian Simmonds who secured the initial $1.5 million Federal grant for Council to deliver these improvements.
Second, to the tenants for their input, persistence and patience in getting to where we are today. Thanks particularly to George at the Bridge Club, Gerald, Neil and Phil at Mens Shed and Monique at e-Waste. When the calls and emails started to dry up in recent months, I knew that we were getting close to a design that everyone was happy with.
And last but not least, to Council’s Connected Communities team, ably led by Julie Byth and Mitch Barlow, who worked with all three tenants to achieve outcomes that will benefit the many local residents who use the Kenmore Community Centre.
They listened, were transparent in their dealings and communications with all three groups and were flexible, and for that, I thank them.
I look forward now to watching these works take shape in the coming months with an official opening in June.
Thank you.