Questions still unanswered as Withers saga continues

A reserve fund for unspent Withers Action Plan money will be set up by the Bunbury City Council in an attempt to retrospectively fulfil the promise it made to the suburb’s community in 2011.

As the saga dragged into its third week, the frustrated Withers community has hit out at the council for its lack of transparency and accountability on the issue.

In June 2011, the council voted to spend $300,000 a year, over five years, totalling $1.5 million on priorities named in the Withers Action Plan.

On Tuesday, City of Bunbury CEO Andrew Brien said $228,000 was spent in 2011-12 and $44,700 was spent in 2012-13.

The reserve fund will be boosted by $327,000 left over funding but the final figure is still in dispute.

South West MLC Adele Farina said the council had failed to provide a clear picture of where and how the money had been spent.

Ms Farina said it was “frustrating and beyond belief ” the council had not dealt with the spending at a council meeting so it was on the public record.

“The Withers community are deeply disappointed this matter is yet to be resolved and that councillors have not interested themselves in resolving the financials,” Ms Farina said.

“It’s now time for the councillors to step up and make the decisions they were elected to make.”

Ms Farina has called for an independent public inquiry into the council’s handling of the matter.

Opposition Local Government spokesman David Templeman yesterday told the South Western Times he would support a public inquiry into the Withers spending.

“There are real questions about the money committed and how the priorities were delivered which need to be answered,” he said.

Mr Brien apologised for the “confusion’’ about the spending.

“I can assure the Withers community that there is over half a million dollars in new capital works and improvements to the Withers area in the proposed 2013-14 budget,” Mr Brien said.

Bunbury Mayor David Smith said he wanted the Withers people to know the issue would be resolved within the week.

“I would hope between now and next Tuesday the staff, the Withers Action Group and Ms Farina can agree on a figure of what should be put into the reserve fund,” he said.

At the urging of the community, the council has left the Withers Action Plan independent of the Withers Urban Renewal Plan.

The Withers Action Group asked Ms Farina to speak on their behalf on the issue.

The council will finalise its $70 million 2013-14 budget at a special meeting tonight.

A final vote on the Withers Action Plan and the reserve fund is expected at next week’s council meeting.

You can read Clare Negus' comment column "Councillors abandon key duty" in today's South Western Times.