By STEVE GRAY
THE Warwick Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been rebuffed by the Southern Downs Regional Council over its campaign to reinvigorate the old railway precinct in the city.
Councillors said the chamber had given people “false hope” that the council backed its proposal when in fact it had no involvement at this early stage.
They said it was disappointing the chamber had made statements to media that gave the wrong impression.
Both councillors and council officers stressed that council had no financial involvement in plans to refurbish the precinct.
While Mayor Peter Blundell and CEO Andrew Roach acknowledged they had a “brief chat” over the issue, both had been adamant that there was no financial commitment from council.
Cr Denise Ingram said one organisation already had contacted her requesting a room for meetings.
“We need to be very careful of the public perception,” Cr Ingram told the 18 December council meeting.
“It’s been such a white elephant.”
Cr Vic Pennisi requested an inspection of the site. He said the council wanted no further involvement in the chamber’s plans until they knew what those plans were.
He said media reports had led to “a community sentiment that council is taking this on” and that the Visitors’ Information Centre and art gallery would be moving to the railway precinct.
Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley said the art gallery committee was concerned over the lack of consultation.
Any decision on a redevelopment of the largely-disused railway precinct is “way into the future”.
President of the Warwick Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Partridge, said it appears councillors want to “kill off the enthusiasm” for the project.
“Warwick Chamber of Commerce has never suggested that council would pay for any development of the Warwick Railway site,” Mr Partridge said.
“Chamber has called for a study of the potential and a part of that study would include the possibility of specific grants for fundraising if it was decided to go ahead.”
Mr Partridge said the chamber had heard persistent rumours the government were looking to sell or lease the precinct and felt Warwick did not deserve to lose such an amazing potential future attraction.
“If councillors want to kill off the enthusiasm of the business community for fear of building up ‘false hope’ their statements will certainly do that,” he said.
“The facts remain the site is a potential for a more ambitious potential arts and craft precinct and a very attractive tourism centre, with the development of the planned Toowoomba-based scenic rail Warwick needs a hub of activity to offer visitors.
“Chamber calls on councillors to share the vision and at least support a study to discover what the real potential is.”
