Council conflicts over kiosk

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts has rejected concerns over the move to relocate Tamarama Kiosk.

The humble kiosk, a staple of summertime snacks, seems an improbable candidate to stir political passions. Yet the decision to move Tamarama  Park Kiosk from the northern to the southern end of the park has sparked stern disagreement between Labor and Liberal councillors.

Ms Betts said the move would assist Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club, which keeps its boats in the kiosk.

“This way the surf club will be able to get to their boats and get them really quickly and therefore their ability to save lives will be greatly enhanced,” she said.

But Labor Councillor Ingrid Strewe has warned moving the kiosk would be misguided. According to Ms Strewe, the plans adopted by Council are unsuitable as the proposed kiosk would be attached to a toilet block, have an inferior view and be overheated. Ms Strewe insisted Council had received bad advice and had thus mistakenly agreed to move the kiosk.

Ms Betts accused Labor of hypocrisy for denouncing the move which she claimed they originally agreed to.

“It is very easy for the Labor party to continually change their mind when they think that they’re just going to be controversial,” she said.

But Ms Strewe denied she had ever supported the proposal to relocate the kiosk.

“I’ve never knowingly voted for the move,” she said.

Ms Strewe insisted her aims were not political and that she simply desired to see the right outcome.

“I said right from the start when they decided to look at putting it on the south or in the middle that it was not a good idea,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Strewe has called for Council to reconsider the construction of a pavilion in Waverley Cemetary. Ms Strewe said Council will need to enter the burial market very heavily and spend $11.9 million on the pavilion and infrastructure works when the money could be spent on upgrading the cemetary itself.