A former Subiaco deputy mayor has launched a strong defence of the controversial multi-million dollar Civic Centre redevelopment, accusing former council colleagues of hijacking public debate with what he calls deliberate misinformation.
Debate Intensifies as Feedback Period Nears End
With the community consultation period for Subiaco's $68 million Civic Precinct project concluding this month, former deputy mayor Gary Kosovich has broken his silence to challenge what he describes as inflammatory rhetoric from former councillors. The ambitious development plan, announced last year, proposes a new civic building and extensive landscaping in the heart of Subiaco, but has generated mixed reactions from residents and former officials alike.
'Fear Mongering' Allegations Surface
"There's been a lot of fear mongering in our community with this development," Mr Kosovich stated emphatically. "This situation has not been helped by former Subiaco councillors, who have hijacked the debate with inflammatory comments when referencing the concept design as being 'a Taj Mahal', 'a vanity project' and 'a waste of money'. What this demonstrates is a complete disregard for proper planning for future community needs."
Among the most vocal critics is former deputy mayor Stephanie Stroud, who has reportedly characterised the project as a "deep dive" into council resources that would inevitably impact rates and services. However, Mr Kosovich dismissed these claims as another scaremongering tactic, pointing to the City of Subiaco's strong financial position.
Financial Viability Defended
"The City of Subiaco has a strong balance sheet and is well-placed to meet its financial obligations and to service borrowings with low interest rates," he explained. "I don't see any problem with the amount we'll need to borrow. It is envisaged that debt incurred by the City to finance this project will have minimal impact on ratepayers."
Mr Kosovich, who served on council until his term expired at last year's election, has been involved with the project since its approval in 2021, working alongside council members, City staff, and architects from Lyons Architects.
Project Described as Essential Infrastructure
"It was always going to be hard. It's the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the City," Mr Kosovich acknowledged. "But it's something we need to do to be able to future-proof the council's services, especially with Subiaco set to see an estimated 50 per cent population increase over the next 15-20 years."
Despite acknowledging community concerns about costs, Mr Kosovich emphasised that the council now needs to engage in more comprehensive consultation to provide residents with clear explanations about the project's scope and necessity.
Community Concerns Persist
Following the City's annual general meeting in December, several residents voiced strong opposition to the development, expressing particular concern about the project's substantial price tag and ambitious design elements. Resident Chloe Senior claimed the project costs were significantly high and questioned whether proper community consultation had occurred.
Subiaco's CEO Colin Cameron defended the $68 million budget, clarifying that it includes various elements beyond the main building. "The actual estimate, if we went to tender now... we would expect that to be around $28.5 million at the moment, but we have escalation in there as well," he stated.
Mayor Appeals to Community Vision
Mayor David McMullen responded to criticism by urging residents to consider whether the community should be able to "have nice things". "Sure, it's a lot of money. Of course it's a lot of money. We don't discount that," he conceded. "I suppose the thing that I'd urge this whole community... 'What would be a fair impost on the current population for the sake of future generations? And what is it that this community enjoys now that was paid for by rate payers in the past?'"
Specific Garden Redevelopment Faces Opposition
Another contentious aspect involves the proposal to transform Rankin Gardens into a festival lawn capable of hosting markets, concerts, and summer outdoor movies. This element has faced particular backlash, with an online petition to stop the redevelopment gathering over 700 signatures.
Resident Jackie Greenshields expressed concerns about the consultation process, stating: "People do not understand the scale or nature of the proposed changes to the gardens. The Have Your Say survey did not ask sufficiently specific questions about what the community values in the gardens, what they wish to retain, or which changes they support or oppose."
Consultation Process Defended
Mayor McMullen responded that the Parks and Environment team has already begun working with the design team to address initial feedback. "(It will) give more consideration to the types of issues you're talking about and walk people through the gardens with that type of focus," he explained. "That's the type of consultation which I think we weren't necessarily anticipating at this particular time, and I dare say the community wouldn't have been ready for if we hadn't presented something tangible like we have done."
As the consultation period draws to a close, the debate over Subiaco's Civic Precinct redevelopment continues to highlight tensions between visionary planning for future growth and immediate concerns about costs and community consultation processes.
