BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au
ISSUE 740 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011
VILLA FARCE NO GO: Red tape is holding up progress on Fortuna Villa. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
By ROSEMARY SORENSEN
THE future of Bendigo’s grand historical mansion is bogged so deep in political bickering and buckpassing, all hope of an outcome any time soon has gone. This week, there were more conspiracies floating around than in a Dan Brown novel: mysterious cabinet documents that nevertheless sit on an opposition politician’s desk, and commercial-in-confidence letters that are also bandied about and quoted when it suits. Meanwhile, the big ornate For-
Fortuna wrapped in red tape
tuna Villa sits on its prime Bendigo site, the outbuildings an asbestos hazard, the grounds contaminated by untreated mine tailings, costing a shade under $1 million every year in security and basic upkeep. With its destiny in the hands of Messrs Damian Drum and Steve Gibbons, Fortuna is now one large embarrassment, a white elephant without a future.
The story thus far: a document variously described as a Business Plan or Feasability Study was commissioned in May last year by the former Brumby Government. According to Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Region Damian Drum, that “back of a beer coaster, cobbled together� document was “thin on planning, outcomes, costs and where millions in
ongoing funding was supposed to come from.� It was also, according to Mr Drum, submitted to cabinet by the Brumby Government, who announced just before the state election funding of $7 million and a commitment to negotiating with the Federal Government. That makes the document unavailable to both the public
and the current state government. However, a copy of that document sits in Mr Drum’s office, and it was from his assessment of it that he issued statements about the unfeasibility of the plan, and also the desire of the previous Labor Government to hide its shortcomings. At the same time, the Fortuna Action Group applied for the release of the report under the Freedom of Information Act.
Continued Page7 EDITORIAL Page 13
You don’t need to hurry, Nothing beats a better built home. 5 King Street Bendigo www.gjgardner.com.au
5442 2300