23 February 2007
The General Manager
Eurobodalla Shire Council
MORUYA NSW 2537

ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS TO COUNCIL'S ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

Our members were surprised by the lack of publicity given to this DA especially since the estimate of cost has doubled since the proposal was originally discussed. Perhaps we missed the media releases and diagrams of the plans in the newspapers. We were also not aware of any public meetings held to show the plans, nor can we remember any presentations about them to Council meetings that were open to the public. If all these were done then we apologise.

We would like more public discussion of the plans to see if that would bring forward more economical designs which would achieve the same results. There are so many demands on ratepayers' money that it needs to be allocated in a way that will best serve the Shire.

We endorse the need for better working conditions for staff and we certainly support having a Council building that is more energy efficient and which has improved water conservation. Council has adopted the policy of using 50% renewable energy and reducing emissions by 50% by 2020 so we hope the alterations and additions will achieve this in regard to the administration building. It is essential that an energy audit is done to determine how efficient the remodelled building will be in comparison the existing one.

The building is the Shire's showpiece and should demonstrate how environmentally sustainable design can be achieved at a reasonable cost.

Jenny Edwards
Secretary