The old adage goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
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Clearly there is a large section of the community which believes the council has “fixed” something which didn’t need fixing.
Wollongong City Council has defended its decision go through a tender process which saw a new two-year contract for the Friday Crown St market awarded to the organiser of the Foragers’ markets.
Naturally, the previous management of the Friday markets – which had established the markets in the first place – felt aggrieved.
The community reacted. Over 1700 people signed a Change.org petition calling on the council to reverse the decision.
Few issues recently have seen the level and depth of public commentary as the decision on the markets.
It’s a hot topic.
The council moved to explain the decision further and defend it.
While council didn’t go to the community on the matter, it took the independent advice of the dreaded “c” word – “consultants”.
Consultants suggested some changes and council went through a thorough process to find the successful tender.
Council was at pains to stress it was not just awarded to the highest bidder.
“The point is I think council’s focus is more about the offer to the community than it is about financial gain,” Council spokesperson Susan Wardle told the Illawarra Mercury.
“In the case of the mall, there’s some costs which are trying to be balanced differently and that’s why [they’ve] gone out with a commercial offer.
“At the end of the day you’ve still got an event or activity that makes a lot of people happy.”
Well, we hope so, because if not we know the community will let us know about it.
GET YOUR HAWKS POSTER
Friday’s edition of the Illawarra Mercury will be a special edition to celebrate the Illawarra Hawks’ 2016-2017 National Basketball League campaign.
It will feature a unique front page feature Hawks star import guard and former league MVP Rotnei Clarke.
Most importantly it will feature the 2016-2017 Illawarra Hawks team poster with the entire playing and coaching group.
The Friday edition will also include all the previews and analysis of the season-opener against Adelaide at the WEC later that night.