The end of Dubbo’s heritage grandstand at the showground seems imminent after Dubbo City Council voted six votes to five in favour of its demolition.
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Council voted at its Monday night meeting to tear down the 115-year-old grandstand by July 1 if a significant part of the $2.2 million needed for its restoration was not raised.
A recommendation to form a working party in aid of the grandstand was also denied, sparking uproar from National Trust of NSW branch chair Peter Davis.
“Without a working party how can we work towards obtaining the needed funds?” Mr Davis asked yesterday.
“The National Trust is here to assist and work with council, not fight with it, but it seems council is sitting back watching it (the grandstand) demolish itself.”
Mayor Greg Matthews, who voted against the landmark’s demolition, was unable to put a monetary figure on what was meant by significant funds, but agreed with Mr Davis that by stopping a working party’s formation it would be near impossible to look for funds.
“Without a working party there are no representatives to lobby the governments,” Cr Matthews said.
Cr Ben Shields, who moved the initial motion, said he was pleased Cr Bartley moved the final motion on Monday.
“This debate has been going on for so many years now. Previous leaders have been too gutless to make a decision. No one’s shown leadership and we need closure on the matter,” Cr Shields said.
“Unless significant funds are raised council will take the necessary steps to demolish it.
Cr Richard Mutton, who last week told the Daily Liberal he was in “two minds” about the grandstand’s fate, voted for the grandstand’s demolition.
“I invited members of the community to contact me with their views on the matter and I had a steady stream of people saying ‘demolish’,” Cr Mutton said.
“I received 21 phone calls and 49 text messages and emails after last Friday’s article in the Daily Liberal. I did not receive one call saying we should keep it.”
A report released this month by Sydney-based architectural company Peru Perumal suggested the grandstand could be of “functional use to the community” and in some measure could generate income if the option of “adaptive recycling” or a full external restoration of the 115-year-old grandstand was adopted by council.
“Why bother spending the money on a report like this if the grandstand is only going to be torn down,” Mr Davis said.
“To pull different concepts down adds to the questionable thoughts of council’s actions.
“We’re here to assist council. We want to make it happen. We’re not here to fight with council.”
Mr Davis said pulling down the grandstand would ruin Dubbo’s heritage.
“Look at the heritage-listed Dundullimal (Homestead), it’s a constant draw card for Dubbo.
“A $250,000 sum from council is an investment in the long-run. To me it seems a win-win situation with a state-of-the-art facility which the entire community can use.”
Mr Davis was angry at the “reactive” stance council has taken towards the grandstand’s fate.
“Council has taken about eight years to decide what to do, but has now given a six-month time frame to raise funds.”
Cr Allan Smith, who voted against tearing down the grandstand, said it was too premature to talk about demolition.
“Why the sudden rush? We need a working party to have another look at all possibilities.
“I don’t want a guillotine hanging over the committee’s heads. My vote was not necessarily against the demolition but there needs to be a reasonable opportunity to come up with a solution.”
l.griplas@ruralpress.com