The Our Town Our Say group have issued a media release with the header:
The long running Batemans Bay Regional Aquatic/Arts & Leisure Centre saga continues ...
Déjà vu anyone? Along with a wide range of concerns regarding the concept plans offered by Council for the community to consider the OTOS group continue to ask "Does a $51m facility which excludes a 50m pool and many pool users meet this criteria?"
A spokesperson for the group said "Eurobodalla Shire Council has come up with a further three concept plans for the community to consider, this time prepared by NBRS Architecture. This is in addition to previous concept plans drawn up on behalf of Otium consultants over 18 months’ ago as well earlier plans for a sports complex to be located at Hanging Rock. "It is alleged that council has already spent to date in excess of $200,000 in ‘concept plans/consultants fees’ to get to this point." the spokesperson added.
"At an information session hosted by Council yesterday at the Village Centre in Batemans Bay, council had on display the new concept plans for viewing by the public. Member of the Sunset Committee and president of the Batemans Bay Indoor Aquatic Centre Committee, Carolyn Harding was also present to answer questions. When asked which concept plan she preferred, Carolyn volunteered ‘None’ clarifying that ‘new designs are required’." The OTOS spokesperson continued "We found the concept plans to be no more than expensive mud maps with no dimensions and no legend, very scant on detail containing even less information than the previous ‘concept plans’." "Our attention then turned to the survey. We were informed that this survey was not restricted to Eurobodalla Shire Ratepayers and open to residents/visitors from outside of the Shire. On perusing this survey it appears to be flawed and therefore could be deemed invalid. Questions appear loaded and double barrelled which makes it impossible to measure the data. It appears that council is lacking in its understanding of survey research principles."
"It is evident that Eurobodalla Shire Council is intent on delivering a ‘white elephant’ that does not cater to the needs of the community now and into the future. There is still time for the community to lobby our councillors and persuade them to listen to their constituents, read the facebook comments, attend the kiosks, listen to what the community is saying and deliver what the community wants."
"Part of the criteria for the granting of the $25m from the Commonwealth Regional Growth Fund is that the project must represent ‘value for money’."
You can do the Survey HERE The following are comments made in Facebook on the Eurobodalla Council Facebook page in regards to the Concept Plans where they encourage community feedback saying "We’re seeking feedback on three concepts that were provided by NBRS Architecture, the architects appointed to design the centre.The concepts include the same elements laid out in three different ways, and we want to know what people like and don’t like about each. We imagine the final design will be a hybrid of the concepts." JH said : Just dived into the survey. Just by answering the survey you can’t dislike any of options. ESC have either intentionally or unintentionally prepared a flawed feedback survey - the data will be statistically invalid. The questions are 1. loaded- which leads to respondents abandoning survey 2. Double barrelled - which forces respondents to answer two questions at once and it’s impossible to measure the data 3. Uses absolutes - the respondents are forced to make a choice even though they don’t want to in order to submit the survey. If ESC is going to undertake research activities using online tools they should at least understand research principles. DNP said: I’m mystified to why we keep being asked for our opinions when we as a community are not being heard ...oh your ticking that box implying you have ...got it now.and WB responded DNP, we all know decisions made they have to do consultation ie survey worded so they get the answers they want. Ie do we want design 1 2 or 3. One being the one they want. Most ppl will answer 1 as its the way they order it. Avoiding do we need a 50 mtr pool questions. They think ppl are stupid.
