Committee option saves $90,000

The Withers Advisory Committee saved more than $90,000 to permanently close five laneways which have been a source of anti-social behaviour in the suburb.

Originally, the Bunbury City Council’s executive staff recommended spending $130,860 on fencing in the laneways.

However, works and services director Phil Harris told committee members, who met on Friday, the council was able to complete the project for only $40,000.

Mr Harris said the previous quote was revised as they did not need to use “Rolls-Royce” materials.

The committee was also told that some of the temporary fences put up on April 2 have been fixed after they had been pulled down by vandals.

Committee chairman Cr James Hayward said the fencing would be stronger than the temporary fencing and he was delighted about the saving.

“The $40,000 price is more in line with what we would expect it to cost, ” he said.

“The potential blowout to $130,000 was difficult to understand. I was certainly pushing the guys hard to reduce that cost.”

The $90,860 saving is nearly one-third of the annual $300,000 allocation from council for spending in Withers.

Meanwhile, the meeting was the first for new Withers Action Group convenor Ken Warnes. The previous convenor Glen Willetts resigned following a meeting of the committee in February.

The committee voted in favour of Mr Warnes’ motion to have monthly financial reports.

The report, which will be available to the public, will contain a breakdown of funds already spent by the committee and the current balance of funds available.