By Shaun Inguanzo
Dandenong Market redevelopment after Keysborough South Ward councillor Peter Brown attempted to delay the project so that 110 stallholders wouldn’t be booted from the market before the Christmas trading period. 22471 Picture: Meagan Rogers.
A COUNCILLOR’S bid to delay construction of the new Dandenong Market could cost ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and push construction into the 2009 Christmas trading period.
Keysborough South Ward councillor Peter Brown submitted a rescission motion opposing the council’s decision on Monday night to award the contract for stage two works at the Dandenong Market to Contract Control Services.
Cr Brown said it was unfair to start works in late October and boot 110 casual stallholders from the Dandenong Market prior to the busiest trading time of the year – Christmas.
“A number of councillors over many months and years have professed to be supporters of the working class, yet they are the first to show (stallholders) the door at Christmas time,” he said.
But this week City of Greater Dandenong CEO John Bennie and mayor John Kelly said a delay could blowout construction costs due to the ever increasing price of steel – and ratepayers would foot the bill.
“Steel costs are rising and have already impacted on the initial project budget,” Cr Kelly said.
“We are currently assessing any such implications.”
Corporate services director Mick Jaensch added that Cr Brown’s bid to shift the start of construction from October 2008 to January 2009 would affect next year’s Christmas period and inconvenience permanent, more loyal Dandenong Market traders.
Council officers told Star that it had made its point clear to traders earlier this year that 110 general merchandise stalls would be cut, and that the criteria for that would be based on their overall contribution and commitment to the market.
Cr Brown’s rescission motion will come before council at its 22 September meeting in Dandenong.
Mr Bennie said if the rescission failed the original recommendation – to award the contract to Contract Control Services for $17.4 million and begin works in late October or early November – would stand, after a majority of councillors at Monday night’s meeting voted in favour it.
Cr Brown was supported by councillors Jim Memeti, Maria Sampey and Sue Walton.
Councillors Paul Donovan and Pinar Yesil were absent from Monday night’s meeting, and their votes could change the outcome if a full council is present at the 22 September meeting.
