A local resident has slammed council’s decision to pump more than $2 million into tranforming the Doherty House ruins into a cafe.
Sean Row said the restoration of the heritage site into a 50-seat cafe, which is currently under construction, should be the focus of businesses and not the council.
“They could have done a lot with $2 million, such as putting more money into things like libraries which are important community services,” Mr Row said.
“I think they could have put it out for a tender, because if it was profitable someone is going to fund it anyway.
“We have so many other things and organsiations that want funding, but we are doing it on a retail premise that doesn’t serve anyone outside of Tarneit.”
Mr Row said his opposition was solely directed towards council’s support of a commercial operation.
“I get why they wanted to do it, and I am not opposed to restoring the house, but I am opposed to using it as a commercial premises.
“I am actually a history buff and I respect history, but is it a council function?”
He also said the council is spending a disproportionate amount of money on Tarneit at the expense of other areas.
“The northern part of the municipality has got quite a lot out of the budget– Manor Lakes, Wyndham Vale and the older parts of Werribee have got very little,“ Mr Row said.
Deputy mayor Josh Gilligan hit back saying heritage sites need prioritising amid an “avalanche” of modern and corporate interests.
“We make no apologies for investing in more than just housing in Tarneit,“ Cr Gilligan said.
“Tarneit residents overwhelmingly back Wyndham City’s intervention in creating local businesses and places we can be proud of as we battle the avalanche of petrol stations and fast-food chains popping up on every street corner“.
Doherty House was built in the 1870s but was left in ruins after bushfires in 1969, which ravaged the area and destroyed the building’s wooden structure.
The ruins were identified back in 2021 as an example of the area’s European heritage and became protected by a heritage overlay.
