This is a sad tale of waste, lack of engineering know how, and inadequate planning. Several years ago, council decided to apply for a Commonwealth grant to ‘redevelop’ the Elster Creek Trail. A bitumen path was already in existence. We estimate that for the cost of $30 – $40,000 this existing pathway could have been widened in several places and several rough edges smoothed out. Instead, in its wisdom, council put up $180,000 (Correction: – $140,000) of its own money and received the equivalent amount from the Commonwealth.

Since then, we assume that many more funds have been expended on this venture – and this year’s budget includes another $100,000 for the Trail. What we don’t know however is how much the following extravaganzas have cost –

• Security guards stationed at night to protect the concrete.
• Rubber matting replaced with new rubber matting 3 months after being laid
• White stripes down the centre when council doesn’t even know whether this is a heavy bicycle track or not. The guidelines recommend this for ‘heavy’ bicycle usage.
• The ripping up of literally hundreds and hundreds of metres of side grass and replacing this with instant grass.

The really important outcome however of this yellow brick road with zebra stripes is that the old bitumen path was ripped up and 4 to 6 inches depth of reinforced concrete laid. All well and good some might say – except that by raising the height of the existing pathway, water could no longer drain away as it had previously. The Trail is now a lake after any kind of persistent rain. It has become home to mosquitoes and god knows what other health hazards.

In the future, residents will undoubtedly have to cough up further funding to replace rotting fencing that sits in water for days on end . The mulch also continues to settle so that there are numerous patches of 4 inch drops from the edges of the pathway – a really good way for cyclists to topple over, or pedestrians to break an ankle. Since the Trail also meanders alongside trees there is continual debris and discolouring of the pathway – again further risk to life and limb. We have to simply ask:

• Why wasn’t there any real engineering assessment done?
• Why has this ‘redevelopment’ cost, we estimate, well over $500,000 when there was already an existing pathway?
• What is council doing about risk management and health concerns?

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From Glen Eira Leader

Frustration pooling in Glen Eira

3 Jan 12 @  11:10am by Natalie White

Mayor Jamie Hyams said the delays were “very disappointing”, but the council was pushing to have the centre finished “as soon as possible”. “It will be worth the wait,” Cr Hyams said.

It was hoped the $41.2 million Bentleigh East centre would open in December, in time for the warm weather. Frustrated residents have posted comments on the centre’s Facebook page, angry they won’t get to use it for much of summer. Michelle Meier said her children’s swimming lessons booked for February had been cancelled.

“I’m also frustrated as I have four foundation memberships and no access to the pool and no known time frame,” Ms Meier said. Trina Eldering Gillies said the council “should have given a more realistic time from the start”.

The dry areas – including indoor courts, gym, creche and cafe – are almost complete, but work on the pool hall has been delayed.

In a statement on the official GESAC website, the pool’s steering committee chair, Cr Michael Lipshutz, said the council had used every means at its disposal to have the builder comply with building time lines. “Council has been levying liquidated damages as a consequence of each milestone missed and they are now approximately $1 million,” Cr Lipshutz said.

More than 3000 people have bought memberships so far.”

AND HERE’S WHAT RESIDENTS SAID ON FACEBOOK –

“I knew it as they have cancelled my kids school swimming which was to be early feb!!! I’m also frustrated as I have 4 foundation memberships and no access to the pool and no known time frame as to when my kids lessons will start!! Now it’s too late to change and go elsewhere, NOT happy at being promised something and not having it delivered!!! I’m sure I’m not the only one”.

“same with gym membership”

“Yup casual rates are sooo expensive!!!!!”

“Will foundation members be compensated as we were told it would be open now… Look at the weather..!!!”

“Not good enough!! PS. Go have a look at Oakleigh Aquatic Centre 4 Outdoor Pool areas… Such a winner!!”

“Classic Glen Eira”.

“Thanks Stephen, I will! But NOT happy that I was promised access to pools for the entire summer and will now have to pay to go elsewhere, more out of pocket costs!!! Let’s see if there’s any compensation”

“On no 😦 you should have given a more realistic time from the start”.

“Under promise and over deliver!!!! Tell us November then def opening in december now could be end of summer……march!!!!! instead if you’d said march and opened jan people would not be soooo annoyed/frustrated!!!!”

“So all those millions you are charging the builder will be shared among the foundation members as a token of you apologies right????”

“Are swimming lessons going ahead as planned for February? If not or if your in doubt – let the public know. We need to make other arragements for the kids. With 6 weeks to go it will be difficult to do”.

“Seriously….. Now im without a gym for a second month, well your at it why not make it three?”

Glen Eira Sports & Aquatic Centre Hi Marissa, at this stage it is too early to say, we will be in touch with all of our Swim School members to arrange introductory classes as soon as we have more information from the builders.

“Tried to get in to 3 other swim schools, FULL!!!!! Surprise surprise!!!!!!”

“SHAME ON YOU!”

“To all those who are commenting and taking a cheap shot at GESAC, take a step back and try show some understanding. It is a $40+ million project. It is an enormous complex and understandably the builders didn’t finish it in the time HOPED. The builders are on their industry break now. What do you want GESAC to do about it? You think they are delaying it on purpose? Just try and be patient because once it opens in February or March, I know everyone will be amazed by what it has to offer”.

“I agree John”

“I totally understand that thus us not the fault of GESAC as a company but surely they could extend a little goodwill for those of us who gave been without a gym now for ongoing months”.

“At least show us some more photos!!”

The fact that it is going to be 40C tomorrow and you are still not open, with your waterslides there to tease us, is really starting to piss me off! – OPEN ALREADY!”

“How’s construction looking?”

Glen Eira Sports & Aquatic Centre Hi Tim, We will post some new pictures as soon as possible as we have to work around the builders.

PS – Some more comments have gone up –

“In “winter” season all building industry taking holiday. Like all of us. Unfortunately GESAC forgotten is Christmas time and people taking break. Planning dep –. Were they on “Holiday” at promising time?”

“And maybe you could offer some complimentry passes to all signed up members at Caulfield Swim Centre? Also possibly offer some swim school lessons at Caulfield Swim Centre if it doesnt get started in the new centre?”

We’ve received some photographs and have decided to put ‘Anon Carnegie’s’ comment up as a full post –

I have recently been wondering why metal tables and seats were removed by council near the pedestrian lights in Koornang Road. Sawn off at the base they just disappeared overnight with nothing replacing them.  Then suddenly the reality appears.  Our public seating, available 24 hours per day has been removed to make way for private seating, owned by Grill’d, the new addition to the ‘culinary delights’ of Carnegie.  How can this happen,  why has a public space had seating removed  to make way for private seating available only to customers of a major chain fast food conglomerate?  This really troubles me and I would like some answers from councillors to explain how this can and has happened.

No, we’re not talking Christmas cheer, moon landings. It’s more like plucked ducks (forgive the mixed ornithology) limping sadly home, much the worse for wear. But they’ll find that the cupboard is bare and major structural damage is visible even from outer space. We’re referring of course to the latest ‘hold up’ with Duncan McKinnon’s much vaunted $8.8 million upgrade and new pavilion and grandstand. According to Cr Pilling’s blog, all is silent on the western front. No tenders, no nothing. All that’s happened is the laying of more concrete for the extended car park.

You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that Santa’s sack of goodies is empty. GESAC, borrowings, delays, lawyers, lousy planning and of course a ‘liquidity crisis’ simply means that there is no money to go ahead full steam with what Lipshutz, Tang, Hyams regard as sacrosanct – the strategic resource plan and budget. Well, we’ve already seen how pliant the budget is, and how wonky the SRP can be. Now there’s the reality that we’ve probably run out of available moolah  – that’s why the delay. For all the talk of prudent and responsible fiscal management, we just have to wonder how Glen Eira can find itself in such a mess. The old maxim of live within your means and the sky’s not the limit when it comes to borrowings, has been proven correct. Again, we give fair warning dear friends – watch out for rate increases that will make 6.5% look like chicken feed. As time goes by, the Auditor General’s latest grading of ‘high risk’ for Glen Eira will resonate so loudly that all the merry chirpings of the faithful flock will be drowned by the cacophony of  residents asking ‘how in the hell could this happen’?