A DECISION on the outcome of the Bidgee Haven Hostel extension will be delayed after heated debate at this week’s Balranald Shire Council meeting.
After Mayor Leigh Byron used his casting vote, the council resolved to not proceed with the 12-bed hostel extension and to withdraw from the $2 million funding agreement with the Federal Government, which was to be supplemented by $1.2 million of borrowed money.
Crs Ken Barnes, Geoff Mannix, Elaine Campbell and Alan Purtill were all in favour of proceeding with the extension, with Cr Barnes indicating he will now put a motion to rescind the resolution at a later meeting.
If Cr Barnes proceeds with the rescission motion, which requires the support of three councillors, the matter will have been before council on five separate occasions since it was first considered in March 2014.
Cr Purtill urged councillors to consider the community support that he saw for the extension.
“We’ve got our local doctors, community nurses… begging us to build it,” he said.
“They’re at the coal face. Let’s put some time and effort into it for God’s sake.
“We could look at trying to reduce the amount of money we have to borrow.”
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Guardian (April 22).
