{"id":172725,"date":"2017-03-15T19:59:43","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T09:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=172725"},"modified":"2020-09-20T17:21:27","modified_gmt":"2020-09-20T07:21:27","slug":"ergon-purchase-decision-deferred","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/03\/15\/ergon-purchase-decision-deferred\/","title":{"rendered":"Ergon Purchase Decision Deferred"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A decision about whether the Council should spend $475,000 to buy the former WBBEB building in Haly Street, Kingaroy, and a car park behind it has been deferred until May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 15, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

A decision to purchase a former Ergon Energy building and freehold land in Haly Street, Kingaroy was overturned at Wednesday’s South Burnett Regional Council meeting.<\/p>\n

In February, Councillors voted unanimously to acquire the building and its associated car park, which was originally owned by the Wide Bay-Burnett Electricity Board, for $475,000.<\/p>\n

After the meeting, though, some Councillors began to have doubts the purchase was appropriate in the Council’s current financial circumstances.<\/p>\n

At Wednesday’s meeting, Councillors heard that if the purchase went ahead it would significantly reduce the money available for any future building renewal or replacement projects.<\/p>\n

They also heard the need to seal the car park at the rear of the building would adversely impact the funds available for future capital works.<\/p>\n

In light of these concerns, Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff moved the February purchase decision be rescinded.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Her motion was seconded by Cr Spud Jones.<\/p>\n

After the vote, though, Cr Terry Fleischfresser proposed a follow-up motion the matter be allowed to lay on the table until May.<\/p>\n

Cr Fleischfresser said in light of new information he’d received, he thought a complete financial analysis of the purchase along with a study of operational efficiences that might be made if Council bought the building was worth looking at.<\/p>\n

Councillors agreed to revisit the topic in two months time.<\/p>\n