If you can't look after one facility why build another?

Council discussed their December 13 decision to dissolve the St Marys Arena Board.

With the dissolution of the board Perth South, who put up 40% of the cost, no longer have any say in the running of the facility. Councillor Gerry Teahen said 'There's no question that it is our intent to take it over.'

Councillor Bruce Symons said in the last month the facility is not be taken care of and he gave the examples of the markings on the ice surface not being in good shape and of a recent injury at public skating. With regard to arena expansion Symons said he had heard the comment 'If you can't look after one facility why do you want to build another?'

Cost rises to $13.4 million

With only Councillor Bill Osbourne opposing the motion, St Marys council voted to give the architect an additional $10,000.

Garwood-Jones and Hanham Architects were scheduled to present plans to council this month. Instead, they said the building will now cost $13.386 million up from $12.160 million estimated August 23, 2005. As their fee is based on the cost of the building, the architect told council their fee will rise to $134,000.

On November 5, 2005 when St Marys Council Votes $124,000 for Architect the justification given by council was that the architect's design was needed in order to get provincial funding.

In opposing today's motion Bill Osbourne said,

"Why do we have to continue? We have enough information now and we can go out and see if the money is there."