$17m Cowes centre shelved

16/12/2016

BASS Coast’s new councillors have shelved plans for the Cowes cultural and civic centre. On Wednesday, councillors voted six to three against calling tenders for detailed design for the centre, the forerunner to seeking state and federal government funding for the $17 million project.

Cr Michael Whelan, the only one of the three Island Ward councillors to back the cultural centre, said he was bitterly disappointed with the shelving of a project in which so many people had put so much effort.

"We have failed to grasp the opportunity to implement a game-changer project. All that was being asked for was $800,000 to get this project to shovel ready.”

Plans for the centre included an enlarged, modern library, new museum space, space for the historical and genealogy societies and Phillip Island Community & Adult Learning Centre, a community hall, cinema, theatre, concert hall and lecture theatre, meeting rooms, exhibition chamber, a tourist information and customer service centre and office space, with Phillip Island Nature Park Administration lined up as a major tenant.

A Cowes cultural and civic centre was a key project of the previous council, of which only one councillor was returned in the recent election.

Discussion on the project became heated as Cr Whelan pressed his fellow Island councillors to support it. “This is the sixth time a Master Plan for the project has been presented. Council will face severe reputational risk if yet again we do not proceed.”

He said the Cowes façade and buildings looked tired and there had been little money invested in the town in decades. “If we won't invest in our town, why would we expect the private sector to do so?”

Council modelling assessed the project as having a cost-benefit ration of 12.7 to the community, with 242 local jobs to be created.

In September, it failed to attract federal government funding from the National Stronger Regions Fund. Council officers recommended strengthening a repeat bid by completing detailed design documentation to demonstrate the project was “shovel ready”.

After the motion to proceed was defeated, councillors unanimously supported a motion to go to tender for detailed design and construction of the Cowes Jetty Triangle, a smaller component of the Cowes Revitalisation Project, with an estimated cost of $2.3 million.

The tender will include a hold point following detailed design to not proceed to construction until state or federal funding has been confirmed.

Councillors voted for a further report to be presented to the council detailing options for proceeding with the other components of the project, including a transit centre and all-day carpark.

The two other Island Ward councillors, Bass Coast Mayor Pamela Rothfield and Cr Stephen Fullarton, voted not to proceed with the project.

Both are members of the Phillip Island Progress Association (Stand Alone), which has claimed the island does not receive a fair share of council funding.

The Post put a series of questions to Cr Rothfield about the decision to shelve the project but did not receive a response by deadline.

Questions to Bass Coast Mayor Pamela Rothfield

Stand Alone and PIPA have been very critical of the lack of spending on the island – why knock back such an important project as the CCCC?
Why did the council decide against proceeding with detailed design for the project, given an estimated cost benefit ratio of 12.7 (almost $50 million in extra economic activity and 242 local jobs)?
Is this the end of the Cowes cultural and civic centre project?
Does the decision have significance for other major projects in Bass Coast (such as a Phillip Island aquatic centre and Wonthaggi cultural precinct)?

9 Comments

Anne Davie

17/12/2016 10:24:58 am

The decision of the new Bass Coast Council not to continue the journey and commitment to the redevelopment of the Cowes Cultural Centre,has hit the hundreds of supporters of the Project like the proverbial ton of bricks.
Since the first architect's design of a new Centre in 1993, there has been 6 other designs with community consultation and attempts to bring a Project into fruition. All have cost money, time and resulted in so much disappointment because of an inability to make a decision.
But with the 150th celebration of Closer Settlement of Phillip Island in 2018, the redevelopment project seemed to be absolutely the right time to have another try.
So the latest exercise commenced over 2 years ago with a unanimous commitment by the then Council, an architect appointed and a Working Group formed. Many Councillors and Officers attended the numerous, ongoing meetings of the Working Group and sessions with the architect. Concept plans were drawn up and considered by the many groups that will use the building. These continued for many months until all the groups were able to say, this is going to be ok, go for it.
Submissions were sent to the relevant government funding bodies and it was believed this would continue until these were successful.
But,alas, this Council feels this is just a step too far.
For me personally, I am full of sadness that this magnificent project, to which so many in good faith, gave so much time and passion, has been denied yet again.
The dream of a place in the Cowes township that would be a show piece for our creativity, our history, our precious environment and a place for people remains again, a dream.

John Adam

17/12/2016 05:49:32 pm

As one who has worked with many people to support the visionary development of the Cowes Cultural Centre, I share the disappointment with others, such as Anne Davie and Michael Whelan, at the decision of the Bass Coast Council not to proceed with the project.
In the long run Phillip Island will be the poorer for this gutless decision.

Neri Melsmith

17/12/2016 09:18:30 pm

What a blow for many residents of PI who have been excited by this project and the possibility of a reasonable place for the writers group and film club to met, and a place to showcase in winter when so many places appear to shut down.
I am so disappointed - Nerida Melsmith

Steven Haby link

18/12/2016 02:58:21 pm

I am utterly gutted and shocked at the Council's decision to shelve (indefinitely?) the Cowes Cultural and Civic Precinct (CCCP) project.

Those Councillors associated with the Phillip Island Stand Alone Movement have lost all legitimacy to be the 'alternative voice' for the best interests of the Island. For years there was continual campaigning from these people regarding the alleged lack of support and funding from the Bass Coast Council for the good people of Phillip Island.

The CCCP if implemented would have provided the residents and visitors a first class facility including a much needed expanded library, appropriate space for the local historical society and affiliated organisations, arts and cultural centre for all situated along one of the busiest thoroughfares on the Island.

As the former Bass Coast Principal Librarian employed by the West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation I would like to pass on my thanks and support to my former colleague Lucy Nuttal, Cowes Library Branch Manager and David Elder from Bass Coast Council for their tireless efforts in promoting the benefits of this valuable project to the community. I tip my hat to you both for your professionalism, enthusiasm and quiet determination under sometimes very trying circumstances. Lucy - you are a credit to our profession as librarians and information custodians and to David you are a credit to local government professionalism and commitment to the community. To both please do not feel downhearted. Continue the good fight.

To those associated with the Stand Alone movement, I don't feel contempt or anger, just sadness and disappointment. You could have underlined your cause by supporting this worthy project but now I feel that you will be the subject of increasing scepticism and questioning of your 'real' reasons for existence. You are now irrelevant.

Steven Grant Haby, Former Bass Coast Principal Librarian

Mike Cleeland.

18/12/2016 05:00:21 pm

It seems disappointing that the Island Councillors did not vote in unity on this issue; I'd have thought they would have got together before the meeting and adopted a unified position.
I spoke briefly to Steve Fullarton during the week and he said he was keen to get funding for the jetty and foreshore area upgrade.
Whatever; between the Foreshore, Cultural Centre and Aquatic Centre the local Councillors need a unified position or they'll be rolled by the majority in Wonthaggi.

Dr Marian Quigley link

18/12/2016 05:23:39 pm

Like many others, I feel shattered that despite the passion, committment and hard work of the working group, former councillors and council officers, the majority of the new councillors have virtually killed this project by refusing to allocate a mere $806,150 to allow the next stage of the redevelopment of the Cowes Cultural Centre and Transit Centre to proceed. This amount would have enabled the preparation of detailed specifications of the design and the opportunity to reapply for federal funding. The fact that these were not provided in the first submission for federal funding for the project was cited as a major reason for its failure. The Council report states:
‘Formal feedback from the Federal government indicated our application was strong and of high quality but could be strengthened in a couple of key areas. In particular, detailed design documentation is needed to strengthen and improve Council’s chances of receiving funding. Detailed design would meet the challenge of demonstrating the projects are “shovel ready”. All projects above $2M that received funding from NSRF have completed detailed design’.
A second application in the next round is obviously now out of the question. As the report also showed, the application for state government funding – (1) Regional Development Fund ($4.75M) and (2) Living Libraries Infrastructure Fund ($.75M) together with the Bendigo Bank grant of $.25M are (were) still ‘live’.
The supposed reason for not proceeding with the plans is council’s lack of finances. But the concept plans have been drawn up and paid for - only to be shelved alongside those produced in the past. In the meantime, the repairs for the ageing current centre which were placed on hold, will now need to be addressed. How much will they cost?
One councillor’s response to the loss of the motion to proceed with the design was ‘That was easy!’ Indeed. Considerably easier than spending hundreds of hours in planning, consultation with stakeholders and the community and writing lengthy funding applications.
I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the former councillors who attempted to finally get this project off the ground and particularly to council officers David Elder and Robyne Young for their integrity, hard work and commitment to the vision for a marvellous centrepiece and community facility for Phillip Island. My commiserations go to those community members who have tried so hard so often but to no avail to make this happen. I'm not sure about Phillip Island standing alone - I think we are standing still.

Rob Easton

18/12/2016 10:32:48 pm

Shame to those Island (and non-Island) councillors that did not vote to support such an important piece of Phillip Island (and need I say it) COWES history.

Here we had an opportunity to put our community first and set the tune to inspire and encourage further economic investment in Cowes but yet again, we are to be retarded for another generation ... until Council is refreshed with people who see the true future and vision for Cowes and Phillip Island rather than building their own factional stand-alone interests.

I regret we have at least 4 years before that change could happen - and who knows what more damage will be done in the meantime!

Pamela Rothfield, Bass Coast Mayor link

19/12/2016 03:56:22 pm

All councillors, across the entire Bass Coast Shire, expressed their independent views as to their decision in relation to the deferral of the detail drawings of the Cowes Cultural Centre at last Wednesday’s Council meeting. The majority of Councillors felt that the timing was not right to commit the ratepayers of Bass Coast to over $800k of architectural drawings, when there are still uncertainties in respect to the ultimate plan relating to the transit hub and proposed positioning of the aquatic centre.
The good news for the residents and visitors to Bass Coast is the $2.3m Cowes Jetty Triangle upgrade proceeding to design stage, and hopefully commencement of the works later in 2017.
The decision at the council meeting last Wednesday, was to defer the detailed design of the CCC and transit hub, until a further report containing options to proceed was presented to council. Such a report would include details of possible funding sources from both Federal and State govts. and likelihood of success.
We have many major projects planned across the shire, and each will proceed as and when appropriate funding is secured.

Robbie J Viglietti

20/12/2016 01:18:25 pm

December 19,2016
After a vicious election campaign based on distortion and outright lies, Stand Alone have slapped the face of their many supporters and consigned the Cowes Cultural Centre redevelopment to the scrapheap.
Our previous Council had a fully funded vision; they recognised the need for the evolution of Cowes beyond a cultural back water reliant on penguins and motorsports. The centrepiece of their vision was the Cowes Activity Centre Plan and the redevelopment of the Cowes Cultural Centre.
Culture brings money. Money brings jobs, economic security and prosperity. A Cultural centre had a demonstrated economic benefit of 12.7:1. With the current Council obsessed with economic benefit above all else, what are they proposing? Continuing to fund the economically and environmentally unsustainable Inverloch tip? Aquatic centres that will be an economic black hole to the community, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars/annum? I look forward to seeing the economic benefit argument of any proposed new projects. If they do not stack up better that 12.7:1, there will be hell to pay.
It is time for Stand Alone Councillor Stephen Fullarton and the Mayor to explain their actions to the people who elected them.
There are over 250 businesses in Cowes. There are currently 60 businesses for sale or lease in Cowes; there are over 20 vacant shops. This is a clear signal that Cowes is an economic basket case.
We need advocacy for business in Cowes right now.
It is time for all businesses to unite and send a clear message to the Councillors that the community deserve better.

$17m Cowes centre shelved

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