Facade In A Fix

Newcastle Herald

Thursday May 1, 2008

By JACQUI JONES

A CASH-STRAPPED Newcastle City Council could ask the Federal Government for about $10 million to fix City Hall's crumbling sandstone facade.

Cr Aaron Buman will seek the support of his colleagues at their meeting on Tuesday to lobby federal Newcastle MP Sharon Grierson and possibly Charlton MP Greg Combet and Shortland MP Jill Hall.

The council does not expect to start repair work for at least another two years, but Cr Buman believes finance needs to be sorted out.

"Council has no money and we know a $10 million project to fix the town hall is massive," he said.

Cr Buman said it made sense to ask for federal assistance given that Labor pledged $10 million to EnergyAustralia Stadium, and that the council had planned to ask the Commonwealth for money for the Newcastle Region Art Gallery redevelopment before plans were recently scaled back.

Ms Grierson said yesterday she was happy to discuss the matter with the council, if and when the motion was passed.

But she said the Government was operating in a very tight fiscal environment.

A staff report to Tuesday's council meeting recommends asking the State Government to secure from its stockpile in Sydney the scarce sandstone needed to repair City Hall.

The report said that an estimate 18 months ago put the cost of the building's repair at about $10 million.

A trial repair on a section of the building, expected to cost between $700,000 and $1 million, is to start in January 2010 to establish the full cost and scope of restoration required.

The overall project is likely to begin in 2011.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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