I have just read with interest your story on MidCoast Council’s plans for the Wingham Cedar Party Bridge replacement. It is in complete contrast to the information that I received at the Community Consultation held in Wingham.
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It was stated to me that the only money available within the grant would be for a 50 metre pool with no other inclusions, no other children's pools nor any amenities. To be able to have the amenities the community would have to be satisfied with a smaller pool.
Is it no wonder that as your story states “the report recognises the community’s distrust of council and its ability to deliver what they are proposing” when the community received misleading information at the council’s own information forum.
From speaking to others that attended the Community Consultation the information disseminated was confusing and in many cases differed from person to person and certainly dramatically differs from the information you are putting forward.
This certainly seems to be an exercise of big brother controlling the new addition to the family and it is no wonder many of the communities are very distrustful of the Forster based council staff.
Kevin Wilkinson
Tinonee
Council response
Ron Hartley, Director Engineering and Infrastructure Services:
The community consultation that we undertook during April and May was focused on replacement options for the Cedar Party Creek Bridge. While one of the eight options presented involved the relocation of Wingham's 50m swimming pool, discussions around what that replacement might look like were quite limited and staff at the consultation were very clear and consistent in communicating that a separate community consultation process would be undertaken to focus on a pool facility, should the Pool Relocation option become the preferred bridge design option.
It is also worth noting that a replacement pool would be on a like-for-like basis (in budgetary terms), and any pool facility, regardless of pool size, would include amenities.
We have worked hard to ensure feedback provided at the consultation was addressed and included in the council report that was adopted last month, recommending the Pool Relocation option proceed to design stage. This feedback included, amongst other things, a community desire for a 50m pool (v the option of a 25m pool), and retaining the existing timber bridge as a pedestrian walkway.
Feedback in general terms from the consultation was extremely positive, with many attendees confirming the complex information had been presented in a logical manner that helped them understand each of the eight options and their respective pros and cons.
Further consultation will be planned with the Wingham community as part of finalising a design for the Pool Relocation option.