Board with meetings

By Shaun Inguanzo
RESIDENTS are urging the State Government to scrap a multimillion-dollar board involved in central Dandenong’s revitalisation after a report revealed members have been failing to attend meetings.
The State Government established the Dandenong Development Board (DDB) in 2003 prior to VicUrban and Planning Minister Rob Hulls becoming the responsible and referral authorities in the Revitalising Central Dandenong project.
According to a letter attached to the DDB 2005-06 Annual Report by chairman David Cowlishaw, the board now focuses on social and economic revitalisation in Dandenong. But the annual report revealed only three members, including Mr Cowlishaw, went to every meeting they were eligible to attend during the 2005-06 financial year.
The financial statement shows the board’s total annual expenditure is at an all-time low of $939,041, but the breakdown reveals the board slashed spending on projects by $90,000 from the previous financial year and increased wages by $16,000.
It also shows budget blow-outs on office overheads, plant and vehicle, and operating expenses. Dandenong Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association president Alan Hood called for the State Government to scrap the board.
“When board members don’t bother to turn up, in some cases for a year, their actions speak for themselves,” he said.
Mr Hood said the State Government should “transfer the funds to the (Greater Dandenong) Council for more appropriate projects”.
Greater Dandenong mayor Peter Brown, a sitting board member, said low meeting attendance was partly because of high turnover on the board due to people changing roles within their own organisations. But he said VicUrban’s grasp on the central Dandenong project had overshadowed the board.
“Certainly with the declared area being the responsibility of the Planning Minister, this only reinforces the power of VicUrban and, I suppose, reflects the original intention of government,” he said.
Noble Park North Ward councillor Maria Sampey, a DDB board member during her mayoral term last year, said there was a need to review the board.
“There needs to be a meeting between VicUrban, the DDB, the mayor and the council CEO to discuss (either VicUrban or the DDB) taking over while the other steps back,” she said.
Cr Brown said he was certain the board had a sunset clause. But there is no clear date. The Dandenong Development Board Act 2003 expires in 2010, the State Government has funded the board an extra $3.2 million until 2009, and VicUrban’s website states the board’s current project on street lighting and public art finishes in June 2008.
Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos said low attendance could have been because the agendas were light due to VicUrban taking a commanding role in central Dandenong.
“The DDB’s role now is to ensure a whole of government approach for Greater Dandenong, not just in capital infrastructure but social as well,” Mr Pandazopoulos said. “In the next year or two we will re-look at the role of the board.”
Opposition spokesman for planning David Davis said there were too many layers of bureaucracy in Dandenong. Star contacted the DDB executive officer for a comment but did not receive a reply before going to print.