The decision actually confronting council is rather more mundane.
It is simply a question of whether to sell the airspace above the car park.
The basic question has been lost in a feel-good march towards the end goal.
Both proponents and opponents have been hung up on the merits of the social housing proposal, its impact and potential long-term consequences.
On the face of it, disposing of the airspace for $1 when it is valued at $450,000 officially, and at least $2.5 million unofficially, makes it a poor deal for ratepayers.
The impact of lost public car parks and potentially making the remainder unattractive to users due to perceptions, however ill conceived, should not be easily disregarded either.
Council’s response to more than 700 negative submissions was to commission reports that for the most part disregard those concerns as unfounded or unsupported.
The officers report urges a ‘brave’ decision and, indeed, it will be a brave majority that approves the sale.
Much is made of the role planning and design processes for the actual building will allow for further consultation and resolution of ratepayer concerns, but that isn’t certain given the ministerial powers to intervene on Big Housing Build projects.
If, as recommended, councillors approve the sale, it will be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The extreme reputation risk referred to in the officer’s report to council is not confined to failure to approve the project.
There are many ratepayers who will be questioning the legitimacy of the process and the failure to hear their collective voice.
Darren Linton is chief correspondent for the News.
