107:. It recommended a project plan be developed by 2001. On 21 August 2000 a Cultural Facilities Taskforce was created. In December 2000, the Council approached the management of the neighbouring shopping centre, Port Central, about a possible joint venture on the site, and the Council endorsed further negotiations on 28 May 2001. The joint venture was expected to cost around A$ 13.5 million, with the Council contributing A$ 7.3 million. The joint venture collapsed in August 2002 because the council was not prepared to accommodate the needs of their commercial partner to make the project viable, and decided to go it alone. The new centre became an icon building under the direction of the council's General Manager, managed by a Project Control group including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The costs blew out considerably by 28 June 2004, when the Council unanimously backed the project, outlays had already reached A$ 15–A$ 20 million, and by late 2007 they had reached A$ 41.7 million. This was due to a range of factors including, that the Council bought and demolished neighbouring shops to make the facility big enough to include meeting rooms and conference facilities, and a drain built by
64:. The inquiry reported its findings in February 2008. It found that the council had failed to provide appropriate financial and project management and had lost control of the costs, that the project costs had harmed the council's ability to provide services and amenities to the community, and that the council's communications management strategy had resulted in inadequate consultation with the public and inappropriate regard to their concerns. The Minister for Local Government dismissed the council and its mayor, Rob Drew, and appointed an administrator upon receiving the inquiry's report. Drew was critical of the process throughout, maintaining that errors had been made and misinformation had been accepted as fact; however, the New South Wales Urban Task Force, a property development lobby group, believed the sacking served as a warning to other councils to stick to "core responsibilities".
178:
had been swayed by developers and supporters and had failed to plan and manage the project and had lost control of the "uncontrollably escalating" cost. The result was an adverse impact upon works and services in other areas of the council's operation. The
Glasshouse, in the commissioner's view, would not have been able to generate the projected income once it opened. It further found that the community had been "consistently misled", that the council had improperly used its support group to campaign against critics and its "communication strategies have driven its processes". The council had therefore failed to meet its charter. Willan recommended to the Minister that all civic offices be declared vacant, an administrator be appointed, and that changes to the way Councils dealt with their own proposals be enacted.
141:. The Mayor, Rob Drew, believed the centre development should be an exciting time for Port Macquarie and was critical of opposition to the project, characterising it as "slanderous accusations" and "fomenting discontent". He acknowledged the report raised concerns about the processes behind the project, but insisted the project itself was sound, saying in a press release, "I for one make no apologies that this is a multi-purpose facility which will provide for performers, community groups, which will provide for conferences, seminars and meetings, which will provide for activities never seen before in Port Macquarie." Harrison meanwhile told
126:(NSW), which allows the Director-General of the Department to investigate any aspect of a Council or of its work or activities. The report, delivered in May 2007 to the Minister of Local Government, concluded that the Council did not exercise due diligence and that there had been a failure to scope the project, and recommended to the Minister that a Section 740 public inquiry, which would be independent and have some of the powers and protections of a
33:
119:
In
October 2006, the NSW Department of Local Government announced it would investigate the council's financial management and would try to determine whether it properly considered the impact the added costs could have on its other functions. The investigation, which commenced on 6 November 2006, was
52:
to build a cultural and entertainment centre, known to locals as the
Glasshouse. The project, initially a joint venture with the management of the neighbouring shopping centre, Port Central, was originally expected to cost the Council A$ 7.3 million. However, by late 2007, despite the centre not yet
177:
After 18 days of public hearings and a total of 765 submissions, Willan released the inquiry report in
February 2008. The report contained a number of critical findings. The key finding was that the Council and its Councillors had not been rigorous in seeking accurate information about the project,
235:
On 8 September 2012, the community elected a mayor and councillors, to form a new Port
Macquarie-Hastings Council. Former State member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, was elected mayor and Lisa Intemann, the only member of the dismissed council to contest the 2012 election, was re-elected as
159:
had been particularly critical of the actions of the
Department of Local Government in the General Purpose Standing Committee. Local independent MP, Rob Oakeshott said, however, that the council should instead address the findings of the report, and stop arguing about the facts or using emotional
168:
On 27 July 2007, the
Minister for Local Government announced a Section 740 inquiry into Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and the Glasshouse project, with particular regard to aspects of financial and project management, the project's impact on the council to provide services and amenities to the
231:
On 20 January 2009, administrator Dick
Persson announced his decision to step down at the end of the month, largely due to the demands of being away from his Sydney home for several days a week. He described the Glasshouse project as a "wrong decision" by the council, attributing it to "woolly
227:
On 17 December 2008, the council announced that some staff would be offered voluntary redundancies as part of a strategy to address the $ 7.1 million deficit it faced for the 2008–2009 financial year without increasing
Council rates. The following day, it set a deadline of 19 January 2009 and
194:
in 2003, to serve as administrator. He said of the development, "What seems to have happened is that a reasonable community facility has been treated by the
Council as an icon which must be built come hell or high water, regardless of the cost to ratepayers." He emphasised that in his view,
198:
The New South Wales Urban Task Force, a property development lobby group, believed the sacking served as a warning to other Councils to stick to "core responsibilities", and in late March, the administrator adopted stricter financial measures listed in an independent review of the project.
87:
politician, and a former state member of parliament who had been openly critical of the council throughout the drama. During the period under administration, voluntary redundancies were offered to 27 staff in order to improve the council's financial position.
195:
incompetence rather than corruption was the reason for the cost blowout, which would reach A$ 66 million once interest repayments were accounted for. The outgoing Mayor, Rob Drew, criticised the dismissal, calling it "atrocious".
173:
in 2004, as Commissioner. The mayor expressed disappointment, asserted the methodology of the earlier Section 430 investigation was faulty, and believed the council's management and decision-making processes would be vindicated.
215:
on 6 September. With the Glasshouse as a major issue, Oakeshott won 63.80% of the primary vote to Drew's 22.88%, with a further 10.07% coming to Oakeshott via preferences. In Oakeshott's old state seat of
232:
thinking with the best of intentions from people not experienced with planning and delivering major capital works." He was replaced in the role by Garry Payne, head of the Department of Local Government.
202:
In September and October 2008, by-elections in the Port Macquarie area at both federal and state level gave a new forum to some of the players in the controversy. When the member for the federal seat of
228:
clarified that 27 positions were being made redundant, while 29 vacancies would not be filled. The redundancies proceeded as planned, although forced redundancies down the track were not ruled out.
650:
282:
145:, "The report has said categorically that Council has lied to the community about the cost of the arts centre at every opportunity it's had and it's put a gloss or a spin on it".
740:
543:
186:
Upon the report's release, the Local Government Minister, Paul Lynch, concluded on 27 February 2008 that it gave him no choice but to dismiss the Council and appoint
57:
211:, retired from politics on 30 July 2008, Oakeshott and Drew, the latter standing as the endorsed National Party candidate, emerged as the major candidates in the
103:
On 30 March 1999, the Council met to initiate planning for a centre to house the visual and performing arts at the former Civic Centre site in the Port Macquarie
1045:
517:
465:
220:, former Councillors Jamie Harrison and Lisa Intemann ran as independents, between them attracting 15.8% of the vote, whilst former Oakeshott staffer
654:
447:
137:
Lisa Intemann and Jamie Harrison, who believed the council had exceeded its mandate and failed to consult with the community, led a public rally in
53:
having opened, the costs had blown out to over A$ 41.7 million, with interest repayments likely to extend the council's liability to A$ 66 million.
305:
1050:
149:
217:
92:
823:
259:
153:
142:
715:
299:
169:
community, and the openness and transparency of decisions made by the council. He appointed Frank Willan, a former administrator of
160:
arguments in support of it. He also cautioned against getting politicians involved, stressing that this was a formal legal process.
748:
138:
49:
41:
960:
624:
547:
707:
291:
111:
in the 19th century, and still in remarkably good condition, was discovered by archaeologists and needed to be preserved.
72:
79:
in which Port Macquarie is located, the former mayor, who was the endorsed National candidate, failed to win against
170:
104:
521:
44:
on 27 February 2008 marked the end of a series of events involving a project which was initiated in 2001 in the
84:
17:
469:
1012:
61:
36:
The Glasshouse arts and entertainment centre was central to the dismissal of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
95:, the community elected a representative council and mayor, replacing the administrator appointed in 2008.
986:
853:
444:
432:
212:
108:
68:
378:
827:
711:
295:
191:
931:
905:
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572:
491:
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333:
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127:
76:
32:
451:
221:
45:
148:
By June, the mayor was looking for political support to avert a full public inquiry. The
1013:"Port Macquarie-Hastings Council - Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate"
797:
130:, be held. A Section 740 inquiry is a necessary step before a Council can be dismissed.
122:
1039:
156:
80:
67:
The events continued to impact upon the community and the individuals involved. At a
849:
628:
187:
653:(Press release). Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. 27 July 2007. Archived from
208:
134:
546:(Press release). Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. 31 May 2007. Archived from
520:(Press release). Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. 21 May 2007. Archived from
704:
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council - Public Inquiry - Inquiry Report Volume 1
284:
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council - Public Inquiry - Inquiry Report Volume 1
224:
went on to win the election against the endorsed National candidate.
826:. Australian Electoral Commission. 24 September 2008. Archived from
31:
627:. Department of Local Government. 27 July 2008. Archived from
408:"Govt to investigate Macquarie-Hastings cultural centre costs"
1019:. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 16 September 2012
993:. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 14 September 2012
56:
On 27 July 2007, a full public inquiry was announced by the
677:"More submissions sought for Port Macquarie council probe"
625:"About the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council public inquiry"
771:"Glasshouse failings prompt stricter financial measures"
651:"Section 740 Public Inquiry - Statement from the Mayor"
906:"Deadline set for council voluntary redundancy offers"
880:"Port Macquarie council offers voluntary redundancies"
573:"Councillor would back public inquiry into Glasshouse"
334:"Task force says council sacking a warning to others"
987:"Port Macquarie-Hastings Council - Mayoral Election"
464:Department of Local Government (17 December 2007).
152:, whose members were dominant on the council, and
599:"Council may seek Glasshouse political support"
18:Port Macquarie-Hastings Council dismissal, 2008
518:""Just tell the truth," Mayor tells agitators"
955:
953:
250:
248:
8:
328:
326:
567:
565:
369:
367:
492:"Rally planned against Glasshouse project"
357:
355:
244:
932:"Port Macquarie administrator to quit"
798:"National Party loses Mark Vaile seat"
7:
854:"2008 By-elections - Port Macquarie"
1046:Local government in New South Wales
260:Australian Broadcasting Corporation
256:"Council sacked over cost blow-out"
120:conducted under Section 430 of the
747:. 27 February 2008. Archived from
730:Inquiry Report, pp. 322–337.
25:
796:Honan, Kim (9 September 2008).
42:Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
1017:Local Government Election 2012
991:Local Government Election 2012
544:"Understanding the Glasshouse"
1:
1051:Public inquiries in Australia
912:. Australia. 18 December 2008
886:. Australia. 17 December 2008
708:Government of New South Wales
683:. Australia. 18 December 2007
292:Government of New South Wales
58:Minister for Local Government
938:. Australia. 21 January 2009
414:. Australia. 27 October 2006
454:, Local Government Act 1993
435:, Local Government Act 1993
1067:
777:. Australia. 28 March 2008
379:"People in glasshouses..."
361:Inquiry report, chapter 3.
123:Local Government Act, 1993
27:Mall construction stoppage
340:. Australia. 6 March 2008
171:Glen Innes Severn Council
105:central business district
605:. Australia. 7 June 2007
579:. Australia. 30 May 2007
498:. Australia. 21 May 2007
190:, who had administered
71:for the normally safe
37:
961:"Dick says he's done"
824:"NSW Division - Lyne"
213:resulting by-election
182:Sacking and aftermath
40:The dismissal of the
35:
450:8 April 2008 at the
965:Port Macquarie News
852:(22 October 2008).
830:on 20 November 2008
69:federal by-election
466:"Public inquiries"
388:. Australia: ABCTV
377:(10 August 2007).
262:. 27 February 2008
164:The Willan inquiry
38:
967:. 21 January 2009
375:Dempster, Quentin
192:Warringah Council
16:(Redirected from
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745:Wauchope Gazette
741:"Council sacked"
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472:on 11 April 2008
468:. Archived from
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304:. Archived from
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133:On 21 May 2007,
128:Royal Commission
115:The Payne report
48:coastal town of
21:
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751:on 17 July 2012
739:
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725:
718:
702:Willan, Frank.
701:
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696:
686:
684:
675:
674:
670:
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658:
657:on 27 July 2008
649:
648:
644:
634:
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631:on 9 April 2008
623:
622:
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597:
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582:
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550:on 27 July 2008
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524:on 27 July 2008
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452:Wayback Machine
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311:on 30 July 2008
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281:Willan, Frank.
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222:Peter Besseling
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46:New South Wales
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802:ABC Rural News
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218:Port Macquarie
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150:National Party
139:Port Macquarie
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73:National Party
50:Port Macquarie
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850:Green, Antony
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81:Rob Oakeshott
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1023:29 September
1021:. Retrieved
1016:
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997:29 September
995:. Retrieved
990:
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969:. Retrieved
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940:. Retrieved
935:
926:
914:. Retrieved
909:
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888:. Retrieved
883:
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862:. Retrieved
857:
844:
832:. Retrieved
828:the original
818:
806:. Retrieved
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779:. Retrieved
774:
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753:. Retrieved
749:the original
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735:
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703:
697:
685:. Retrieved
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659:. Retrieved
655:the original
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633:. Retrieved
629:the original
619:
607:. Retrieved
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581:. Retrieved
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552:. Retrieved
548:the original
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526:. Retrieved
522:the original
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474:. Retrieved
470:the original
459:
440:
428:
416:. Retrieved
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390:. Retrieved
385:
382:(transcript)
342:. Retrieved
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313:. Retrieved
306:the original
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264:. Retrieved
236:councillor.
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230:
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188:Dick Persson
185:
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942:14 February
916:14 February
890:14 February
860:. Australia
804:. Australia
755:14 February
445:Section 740
433:Section 430
266:27 February
135:Councillors
85:independent
1040:Categories
864:22 October
834:22 October
808:22 October
240:References
209:Mark Vaile
99:Background
62:Paul Lynch
386:Stateline
936:ABC News
910:ABC News
884:ABC News
858:ABC News
781:12 April
775:ABC News
687:12 April
681:ABC News
661:12 April
635:12 April
609:12 April
603:ABC News
583:12 April
577:ABC News
554:12 April
528:12 April
502:12 April
496:ABC News
476:12 April
448:Archived
418:12 April
412:ABC News
392:12 April
344:12 April
338:ABC News
315:12 April
143:ABC News
109:convicts
75:seat of
971:3 March
714:
298:
309:(PDF)
288:(PDF)
83:, an
1025:2012
999:2012
973:2009
944:2009
918:2009
892:2009
866:2008
836:2008
810:2008
783:2008
757:2009
712:ISBN
689:2008
663:2008
637:2008
611:2008
585:2008
556:2008
530:2008
504:2008
478:2008
420:2008
394:2008
346:2008
317:2008
296:ISBN
268:2008
205:Lyne
93:2012
77:Lyne
154:MLC
91:In
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
