Councillor Chris Harris

When the new Surry Hills Community Centre came before committee this month there was much debate amongst councillors as to why its budget had blown out over five times from the original $3.6M to $19.9M.

“Surry Hills residents are overdue for an improved facility and I certainly support building a quality sustainable community centre in Surry Hills,” said Cr Harris.

“However I am at a loss to understand how this blowout has occurred. I was told the ‘outstanding’ sustainable inclusions were to blame.

“But this is just not true. What concerns me is that people will see the price of this centre and think that sustainable buildings are unaffordable.” Cr Harris said.

“A recent example of a quality, sustainable building is at the corner of Knox Street & New South Head Rd Double Bay. This has comparable floor space to the proposed Surry Hills Community Centre yet cost $6.5M to build. The exceptional environmentally sustainable inclusions in this building - such as being independent of sewer and water - cost a mere $100,000. The Surry Hills Community Centre on the other hand will continue to use mains water and sewer.

“So if environmentally sustainable inclusions aren’t the cause of the budget blow out what is?

“Building a six-star sustainable community centre for Surry Hills is something that I am proud to be associated with. However, as a responsible councillor I must ask why this facility is triple the price of the building in Double Bay and how the Lord Mayor could have allowed this project to go $16m over budget.” Cr Harris said.