Dear Beagle Editor, We are a little confused by the continued back and forth regarding the release of the Engineering Report on the Batemans Bay Pool. When requested from Council the answer was NO due to being “Commercial in Confidence”
When Catherine Dale was asked directly by Save the 50m Pool member Peter Coggan on Feb 10th at the Village Centre Kiosk according to Peter Dr Dale told Peter Coggan 'It’s commercial in confidence and the consultants will not release it.' Coral Anderson has advised that she had located the consultant as advised in the above letter and then the spoke personally with a representative of the consultant company who said: "I would be happy to release it (the report) but the council is our client and they have not given permission to do so." Coral asked the consultant representative if there would be anything commercially confidential in the report, to which he replied: "I can't see that there would be anything in the report that would be commercial in confidence. It would be our standard structural report.'
However Coral received a letter from Council today that said
Coral has received an email from Calibre saying: The report was prepared for Council and as such we cannot issue this to anyone else without their permission. Calibre requires a simple letter from Council advising that they have no objection to the release of a copy Council says the consultant provided the report on a strictly ‘Commercial in Confidence’ but the consultant says "I can't see that there would be anything in the report that would be commercial in confidence. It would be our standard structural report.' The consultant says, via their email to Coral, that they can’t release the report without written consent but Council says it can’t release the report without written consent. So there it is …. The report is not “commercial in confidence” as claimed by the General Manager while it does remain protected by copyright and the client has advised that they are happy to release the report with written consent from the client. So write the letter Council !!!!! .... because the public want to read the report paid for with the public purse that is about the structural integrity of a public asset. The engineering report has been seen by the councilors. The piss-anting around by Council in how they have dealt with this matter continues to inflame the community to the point where they suspect cover-up and subterfuge. From all we hear the trust and respect in this council is the lowest ever seen. While this issue remains a matter of public interest we will continue to request the engineers report be released as it plays a role in the determination to remove the 50m pool in Batemans Bay and replace it with a 25m pool with continued unqualified comments coming from Councillors such as Rob Pollock who told our group member Peter Coggan ,”Batemans Bay will never get a 50 m pool. Too expensive to construct and maintain & not financially viable. The old pool is just that worn out & too much has been spent on its maintenance in the last few years . It has to be replaced with a 25 m pool. Narooma has the 50 m pool for our Shire. Councillor Pollock is also on the public record at the EGM 29th August 2017 saying ‘I will never vote for Batemans Bay to have a 50m pool’. Can Councillor Pollock qualify how he knows the old pool is just that worn out? Today Council audaciously wrote and said that they would no longer respond to anything regarding this matter
Is that the opinion of the Councillors ??? and is that their direction that Council will now close down any response to the matter of the Batemans Bay engineering report. What next. Close down all correspondence in regards to the purchase of the Bowling Club site. Close down all correspondence in regards confidential matters or Huntfest. Well, Council, read this and then file it appropriately. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and all councillors are fully informed on matter. If we do not receive the structural report (and the quantity surveyor’s report also requested months’ ago) the email correspondence regarding council’s withholding of this public information will be read out to the public at our meeting 5.30pm @ The Soldiers Club 15/2/18.
Fight for Batemans Bay’s 50m Pool
Rule 104.2.1 of engaging with community - Find ear and then insert finger. Rule 104.2.1 (a) Be sure it is your ear
