Storage Scheme Shelved
Newcastle Herald
Thursday May 23, 2002
ALL 13 Hunter Valley councils are being asked to contribute towards a central records repository to save storage costs.
The likely cost of establishing the records centre, including the first year's operating costs, would be $3.5million, Newcastle councillors heard on Tuesday night.
But Hunter Councils chief executive Barbara Penson said the scheme aimed to be cost neutral in five years.
Hunter councils could then use the service at no cost.
Dr Penson was briefing Newcastle City Council's development approvals committee seeking in-principle support for Newcastle Council to be a member of the consortium.
But Cr Ian McKenzie (Greens) said the council had established a secure records centre at its Waratah depot.
Council manager Michael McMahon said it was true that Newcastle council had enough space to satisfy its records needs at present.
Newcastle City Council was being asked to provide a guarantee of $680,000 towards the scheme should they favour it, according to Dr Penson.
Dr Penson said a preferred site had been selected but no firm decision taken.
Dr Penson said that once the proposed records repository held 800,000 boxes it would run at a profit.
Councillors voted to receive the briefing and took no further action.
© 2002 Newcastle Herald