I AM writing to refute Mr Glazebrook’s baseless claims in his letter ‘City in a spin’ (Berwick News, 13 August), which makes subjective comments about ratepayers’ money being used to promote political parties or ideologies.
As the writer is well aware, the City of Casey is not politically aligned.
The council prepares its annual, independent budget, based on the specific needs of Casey’s growing, diverse community and is committed to providing infrastructure and services in the community’s best interest.
As council has previously proven, this city and its surrounds severely lack access to arts and cultural facilities and Bunjil Place will meet this critical need.
To achieve the best result for the community, council has advocated to all levels of government for financial support towards the project.
It is clear that Mr Glazebrook has missed the point of the funding.
The Federal Government’s contribution of $10m will reduce the cost of the project to council, support more than 1200 jobs for locals during construction and 53 post opening, and deliver a range of economic benefits.
It is important that Mr Glazebrook’s public claims about council and Bunjil Place be informed by the facts, rather than his own political alignments or personal ideologies.
Cr Mick Morland,
Mayor, City of Casey.
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Ratepayers need true facts
I WOULD like to set the record straight, regarding Mr Girton and Mr Kotsiras’s letter ‘Ratepayers Count’ (Berwick News, 13 August).
The City of Casey’s ability to fund Bunjil Place has always been secure.
The $25.5M allocated in this years’ budget is part of the $125M budget for the project and is fully funded in Council’s Budget and Strategic Resource Plan without having to increase rates to do so.
The $10M from the Federal Government reinforces council’s ability to deliver this much-needed community facility. Council continues to advocate to the State Government for funding, to further reduce the cost of the project to council.
It appears the writers are out of touch with the local community if they are unable to recognise this significant gap in local arts and cultural infrastructure and service provision.
Almost 50 per cent of Casey’s population is made up of students aged under 18 and their families, who are crying out for quality arts and performing venues close to home rather than having to travel considerable distances to centres in Warragul, Frankston or Clayton.
Cr Mick Morland,
Mayor, City of Casey.
