Council slams bungling Dogs

[LostDoggy]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24076009-19742,00.html

MARIBYRNONG council has hit out at allegations that it had threatened the Western Bulldogs' future, saying the club was at fault. The Bulldogs last night revealed they had asked the state government to intervene in a planning dispute with the council that threatened the club's financial future.

Dogs CEO Campbell Rose said that if the government had not stepped in yesterday to over-rule the City of Maribyrong regarding planning permits for the proposed Elite Learning Centre, the club faced the prospect of a half-finished administration building and a $6 million bill.

The council has reacted angrily today, saying it had not refused a planning permit for the development and that poor management of the project was the cause of the club's woes.

"The Bulldogs call themselves ‘the community club’ – but due to their own mismanagement, our community will not receive what they desperately need," Maribyrnong mayor Cr Michelle MacDonald said today.

The council said the Bulldogs had only filed the planning application in April and knew permission could not be given until September as the proposal had to be taken to the community.

“We are a project partner of the Whitten Oval re-development and for the sake of our community, we want this project to occur. However the Bulldogs organisation has bungled the management of the redevelopment," Cr MacDonald said.

"It’s been reported our council has refused to provide a planning permit for the proposal. This is not true."

The council also said it had not reneged on a commitment to provide $1 million to the project.

"The Bulldogs commenced the redevelopment over two years ago, knowing that they did not have the money to complete the project. We’ve made repeated efforts over the last two years to help the Bulldogs pull the Whitten Oval redevelopment back on track, and they’ve turned down every offer," Cr MacDonald said.

"They’ve made the claim that our council has refused to deliver our $1 million contribution to the project. Again this is untrue. The money has been allocated in council’s budget over three years and the Bulldogs have always known this."

Rose said the Dogs had only until the end of the month to sort out the dispute before the builders could not continue because of lack of approvals.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

I know who I believe in this

And it ain't the Council

[Bornadog]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

Always two sides to every story, so don't know who do believe. Definitely a communication break down.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

Always two sides to every story, so don't know who do believe. Definitely a communication break down.

Hmmm. A politician stating the **** up was someone else's fault. I didn't see that one coming.

Who to believe? Who to believe...?

[Bornadog]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

Hmmm. A politician stating the **** up was someone else's fault. I didn't see that one coming.

Who to believe? Who to believe...?

Lets hope its sorted.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

"The Bulldogs call themselves ‘the community club’ – but due to their own mismanagement, our community will not receive what they desperately need," Maribyrnong mayor Cr Michelle MacDonald said today.

What the **** is with the inverted commas? Is she trying to say we aren't a community club. Piss off.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

The council's version is based heavily on verfiable facts. When the club applied for the permit, what the normal process for such a permit is, whether the 1 million is still due to be paid to the club...These are all easily verfiable facts, and if it is lies, it will be exposed.

The quotes from Rose i have seen don't even say the council had done anything wrong, just that the permit had not yet been granted. Well, not getting it in early enough would be one reason for something like that, wouldn't it? It also happens to be the only reason supplied by either party.

How long since the redevelopment plan was announced now? It must be something like 3 years? Maybe its possible that the club is at least a little to blame for not having gained the required planning approvals before things got to a state of emergency and they had to call in a favour from the state government?

Looks to me like the club stuffed up and then got on the front foot in the media to get their spin on the story. Good PR work.

[GVGjr]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

The council's version is based heavily on verfiable facts. When the club applied for the permit, what the normal process for such a permit is, whether the 1 million is still due to be paid to the club...These are all easily verfiable facts, and if it is lies, it will be exposed.

The quotes from Rose i have seen don't even say the council had done anything wrong, just that the permit had not yet been granted. Well, not getting it in early enough would be one reason for something like that, wouldn't it? It also happens to be the only reason supplied by either party.

How long since the redevelopment plan was announced now? It must be something like 3 years? Maybe its possible that the club is at least a little to blame for not having gained the required planning approvals before things got to a state of emergency and they had to call in a favour from the state government?

Looks to me like the club stuffed up and then got on the front foot in the media to get their spin on the story. Good PR work.

It sounds a lot like it. The fact that it hit us supporters from out of nowhere indicates that there might have been a bit of brinkmanship in this and we then decided to put the council in the position of the bad guy.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

This story suggests that there are 2 issues of greater concern than the planning stuff-up by the club:

Issue No 1: Is the club delivering whjat it promised to the area?

"The Bulldogs call themselves ‘the community club’ – but due to their own mismanagement, our community will not receive what they desperately need," Maribyrnong mayor Cr Michelle MacDonald said today.

Issue No 2: Is the redevelopment under funded/going to run out of money?

"The Bulldogs commenced the redevelopment over two years ago, knowing that they did not have the money to complete the project. We’ve made repeated efforts over the last two years to help the Bulldogs pull the Whitten Oval redevelopment back on track, and they’ve turned down every offer," Cr MacDonald said.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

What the hell do they want. We do a hell of alot more for the local community than the other AFL clubs, yet these a*s h***s are still complaining that we are doing something wrong. If they want the redevelopment to go ahead then why are they trying to stop us from finishing it?

There is no way that I am going to beleive a single word that comes out of the mouths of the idiots who run the Maribynong council.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

I don't know anything about that Council, and you probably don't know anything about planning and council approvals.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

This story suggests that there are 2 issues of greater concern than the planning stuff-up by the club:

Issue No 1: Is the club delivering whjat it promised to the area?



Issue No 2: Is the redevelopment under funded/going to run out of money?

"The Bulldogs call themselves ‘the community club’ – but due to their own mismanagement, our community will not receive what they desperately need," Maribyrnong mayor Cr Michelle MacDonald said today.

What won't the community be receiving? Sorry Ms. MacDonald, you tool, the Club is providing the community services that your council is supposed to be responsible for but couldn't pull together in your lifetime, let alone the limited time you have before 30,000 Dogs members vote you out.


"The Bulldogs commenced the redevelopment over two years ago, knowing that they did not have the money to complete the project. We’ve made repeated efforts over the last two years to help the Bulldogs pull the Whitten Oval redevelopment back on track, and they’ve turned down every offer," Cr MacDonald said.

Surely it was reasonable to expect that the commitments made by State, federal and local governments would be honoured? The AFL committed money as well. The only shortfall at the time was the Forever Foundation who not only come through with their original estimate of $2m but have so far come good with $5m, allowing us to increase the scope of the project.

The only group who has not come good with their promise is the local council - you, Ms. MacDonald.

Why would the development need your help to be put back on track? It was never off track until you stuffed us around with your petty bureaucracy.

[Mofra]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

I have never understood why we need 3 levels of bureaucracy in this country that are so comprehensive. Some areas of Tasmania have a representitive at 1 form of government or another for every 6000 people. Ridiculous.

He who governs least, governs best.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

Living in Maribyrnong I can vouch for the council's poor record.

Can't wait for the next council elections so we can toss out these morons (only to be replaced by other morons of course).

As for 'due process' - funny that the council finally decide this is important when for years they've let 'sponsors' rush through the planning stage!!!

[Missing Dog]

Re: Council slams bungling Dogs

I have never understood why we need 3 levels of bureaucracy in this country that are so comprehensive. Some areas of Tasmania have a representitive at 1 form of government or another for every 6000 people. Ridiculous.

He who governs least, governs best.

1. The size of and population of the Melbourne Metro area makes it difficult for a State government department to handle local issues effectively. How big would such State departments need to be handle all the issues that a given property or street might have from all of the regions in Melbouren. it would be unworkable.

2. So that they can justify charging you and me another tax (after you have already paid income tax on it, mind you) which they call "Council Rates"