Bendigo residents are calling for more transparency on plans to sell council-owned land for the Bendigo GovHub with hundreds of signatures tabled in Victorian Parliament.
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Regional Victoria and Decentralisation Peter Walsh tabled a petition last week with 328 signatures calling for more detail on the deal with the State Government.
More signatures will be tabled in coming weeks.
“Jacinta Allan’s ‘nothing to see here’ approach is frustrating locals who want to know more about the deal between council and the State Government,” Mr Walsh said.
“Despite the Government’s rhetoric, without greater community consultation there’s hundreds of people who still aren’t confident that this deal will be in their best interests.
“Ratepayers deserve to know if this is a good deal for the Bendigo community – details that the Andrews Labor Government would clearly prefer to keep secret.”
The City of Greater Bendigo plans to sell the land to the Andrews Labor Government and move to temporary accommodation from early 2020. Council will then move back into the completed Bendigo GovHub as long-term tenants.
Many Bendigo residents still want to see the detail of the deal and the petition is an opportunity for community members to voice their concern.
“We know from past experience that the Andrews Labor Government can’t manage major projects, with a track record littered with cost blowouts and construction delays,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Bendigo community is demanding greater transparency from Daniel Andrews and their local member Jacinta Allan.
“I encourage anyone with concerns to sign the petition and have their voice heard.”
The petition can be downloaded from www.peterwalsh.org.au/issues