Local investor Dan Casey's ambitious plans to restore the historic Globe Hotel is facing potential derailment due to “planning delay” challenges from Federation Council.
The hotel, a landmark site integral to Australia's federation history, could see a new lease on life through Mr Casey's envisioned $5 million restoration project.
However, unexpected obstacles from the Federation Council have surfaced, casting doubt on the project's future and sparking concerns among local residents about the town’s economic revitalisation.
At last Tuesday’s monthly meeting of council, several community representatives gathered in the public gallery, demanding to understand the lack of support from council, despite the item not being on the agenda.
However, Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke, while discussing the LGNSW cost shifting report brought up the matter.
“It would be remiss of me not to comment- Cr (Shaun) Whitechurch and myself went down to the Globe Hotel to have a look at the situation down there and have a look at the very positive outcomes that could happen and hopefully will happen for that building,” he said.
“There are certainly some issues there. Our job as councillors is to service the community. The community have put us there to represent them … and glad we did as we are involved and in touch with what’s going on.
“The other side of that is we have come back to council and see what resources are needed to help our staff to get through some of the red tape that the state government have put on. It is heritage listed that building, so there are some hurdles to climb but between our staff are very positive of an outcome. We are all extremely keen to see that project come to fruition.”
The discussions later in the meeting revealed a broader issue with the council's planning capacity. Councillor David Longley criticised the lack of resources, which he believes hampers the council's ability to support such significant developments.
"It's reflecting badly on staff and council. We need to invest in our planning department to stay ahead," he urged.
Councillor Gail Law echoed these sentiments, pointing out the stark differences between planning systems across states and the need for greater support in New South Wales.
Cr Law said council’s planning department is “being shot down in flames”.
“It’s just not fair, and it's just not right,” she said.
“The difference between the Victorian planning system and the NSW planning system is amazing and people who come from interstate do not understand, or care to check, and it just cannot keep happening. We have to have more support in our planning area.”
“It’s a statewide issue,” Mayor Bourke stressed.
Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch called for immediate action, citing a recent review by Professor Joseph Drew of Newcastle University that highlighted the staffing shortages.
“Professor Drew said we are short; staff are telling us we are short. We appear to the community as if the system is broken,” he said.
“The staff are at wit's end, we can't get emails returned, we can't get phone calls returned.
“We cop it in the supermarket, the street, the hotel, the football ground, we cop it everywhere. It's not their fault.
"We had a professor tell us in one of his 77 recommendations that we haven't got enough staff, employ someone now."
Despite the urgent calls for action, council’s General Manager Adrian Butler indicated that a comprehensive service review was necessary before any recruitment could proceed, aiming to present a strategic approach at the March council meeting.
Councillor David Fahey pointed out that the bureaucratic hurdles originate from state-level decisions, urging the public to direct their frustrations appropriately.
“All the keyboard warriors need to pull their head back in and....before you throw the mud know where you're supposed to be throwing at,” Cr Fahey said.
"If you don't like the system.... write to your local member and get him to change it, write to the planning minister. Write to the premier, because it's not our fault.”