Capel Shire councillor Kaara Andrew raises alarm over estimated $780k a year running cost of Dalyellup hub

A Capel Shire councillor has argued she “in good conscience” cannot vote to progress plans to build a $10.9m community hub in Dalyellup after running costs for the facility were estimated at $780,000.

But Shire president Doug Kitchen has claimed the figure is a “high-level” guess and the council already spent nearly half of that amount on services for the growing community.

The Dalyellup Multipurpose Community and Youth Centre is set to be the heart of the Shire’s presence in the area and will include a digital technology hub, new library and expanded council services.

Cr Kaara Andrew questioned the estimated $780,000 a year cost of running the facility and said she could not “in good conscience” vote for any items to do with the centre until more community consultation was held.

“Before we go much further, we have to have a really serious conversation about what it’s going to cost us a year to run this and actually have a conversation with the community about whether or not they consider this a worthwhile project to be putting that kind of money into year-on-year for the next 25 years,” she said.

“It’s not our money, it’s their money and there needs to be a hell of a lot of community buy-in — not just at the warm and fuzzy thoughts about how great it’s going to be but the actual pragmatism on how we’re going to pay for it.”

She claimed the centre was a project which got “dumped on” the council after a $8m State Government funding commitment at the last election and the operating costs would result in an 8 per cent rate rise for residents.

While describing Cr Andrew’s operating cost concerns as “definitely valid”, Cr Kitchen said the centre had been in the council’s long-term financial plan “for probably near on a decade” and the operating costs were an estimate.

“(It) is quite a high-level study at this point of time and some of those things are made on assumptions,” he said.

“We’re actually already spending about $355,000 per year running our current library and other services in Dalyellup. These will be moved across into this building so we’ll no longer be paying a lease.

“Some staffing requirements will increase in this building but that’s because there is a different offering there.”

The debate over the centre’s running costs overshadowed the council’s move to contribute an additional $500,000 from reserves funding towards the project in the hope it will attract additional funding.

Deputy Shire president Sebastian Schiano supported the move, noting the area’s growing population.

“There is a level of staffing, support, facilities and services that currently doesn’t exist in Dalyellup and this building ... is also about making the Shire present within the community,” he said.

The vote was carried 6-1, with Cr Andrew the dissenting vote.

The additional contribution still leaves the precinct more than $1m short.