IT is over – Wuai has been put to rest. Wagga City Council last night resolved to write to ACA Capital Investments (ACA) and the Wuai Group to advise the draft contract for sale of land at the proposed Copland Street and Kooringal Road site be withdrawn.
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The decision replaces a number of previous resolutions regarding the sale of the land and means council will now cease all negotiations.
The first move came in the form of a councillor’s report tabled by Paul Funnell, with the majority of councillors voicing their support to end a proposal that has been plagued with an ongoing lack of communication and community angst.
Initially an expiration date to enact a sunset clause was set for 4pm on October 25, but Cr Funnell last night moved to ensure all ties were cut, effective immediately.
Cr Funnell told the meeting council had been “thrown under the bus” over the matter and urged councillors to put the saga to rest.
“We are held in this situation, they’ve been given ample opportunity,” Cr Funnell said.
Cr Alan Brown moved to amend the motion in order to give ACA with one last chance to come forward if the project “still had some oxygen”.
Cr Brown’s proposal was to withdraw the contract unless council received a briefing from the developer by October 25 and a signed contract no later than 30 days from the briefing.
Councillors voted down the amendment eight to three, with only Cr Brown, Cr Greg Conkey and Cr Dallas Tout backing the extended deadline.
Cr Kerry Pascoe told the meeting ACA had “slammed the door” in council’s face, while the consensus among most – council had done all it could, it was time to move on.
“I don’t think giving more time will solve any issues, only fester more over time,” Cr Pascoe said.
“It’s been given oxygen, given opportunity, put it to rest,” Cr Funnell said.
A number of reasons had been cited as reasons behind ceasing negotiations, including the ongoing lack of communication from ACA and growing concern from the community over the lack of transparency as to the contents of the proposed centre.
