The leadership of the Millicent RSL has made an impassioned plea to Wattle Range Council to spare its war memorial hall from possible demolition. A renewed call from among the elected council membership to place the proposed $5.5m council office on the North Terrace site has drawn a sharp response from RSL vice-president Bruce Clayson.
According to the former National Serviceman, the Millicent RSL Memorial Hall should be retained as a shrine to those who served. Speaking at last week’s council workshop at the invitation of Mayor Des Noll, Mr Clayson apologised for the emotional tone of his remarks.
Mr Clayson said he could not see the rationale behind the call to demolish the memorial hall. He said large sums had been spent on upgrading it by the RSL, council and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Numerous other suggested locations for the new office came from the floor during the three-hour workshop including Jubilee Park, Ridge Terrace skate park, Centennial Park and three separate locations in George Street.
Council had decided on the former netball courts on North Terrace as the preferred office site after a split six/five vote at its October monthly meeting. Council chief executive Ben Gower put the office location on the agenda for council’s workshop as he felt the council had made its October decision without knowing the ownership status of the Millicent RSL Memorial Hall.
Mr Gower said the legal advice confirming council’s ownership had arrived just ahead of the October meeting and it had not been fully considered by the executive leadership team. As a result, he feared that councillors may have not made an informed decision at their October meeting.
According to the chief executive, it was appropriate to have these discussions on Thursday in an open forum for the sake of transparency. Councillors were privately given copies of the legal opinion from Adelaide legal firm Norman Waterhouse which detailed the various leases since the mid-1950s when the Millicent RSL erected its memorial hall on council land.
Councillor Dale Price said he had signalled his intention to move a rescindment motion with respect to the North Terrace netball courts preferred location.
Cr Price said he was uncomfortable with that decision as he felt it was made in haste and was not informed. According to Cr Price, the Beachport recreational boat ramp had been built in the wrong place and it had cost the council.
The Sorby Adams ward councillor said the large council workforce should be located near the CBD and any new office could incorporate a room for the use of the RSL. However, his stance was strongly rejected by Cr Dennis Muhovics.
He likened the demolition of the Millicent RSL Memorial Hall as the equivalent of shooting the popular cartoon character Bambi. Cr Muhovics anticipated there would be pushback from the community if the council moved to demolish the Millicent RSL Memorial Hall.
“The North Terrace netball courts site is the least controversial,” Cr Muhovics said. Cr Kevin McGrath had moved the October motion for this site and said this decision had not been rushed. Cr Rick Paltridge said he was “very uncomfortable” with the tightness of the October vote. “A six/five vote is a hard sell,” Cr Paltridge said.
Deputy Mayor Moira Neagle said 39% of the 419 respondents to a council survey in 2020 had identified the North Terrace netball courts as their preferred site. Cr Dean Burrow said it would be a pity to demolish the Millicent RSL hall and queried whether it could be incorporated into the new office.
Mr Gower reminded the meeting that he had been commissioned by the council in 2017 to start strategic planning for the new office. He said he was about to start discussions with architects regarding detailed plans.
Cr John Drew said he anticipated a motion regarding the preferred office location would be brought to the February monthly meeting on Tuesday.
