At the council’s March meeting, a decision was made to revoke its original motion made at a meeting in September 2018. 

The council had planned to spend $5 million on a new centre that would have included a sports pavilion, change rooms and a function centre.

However, by November 2017, a petition was circulating asking council to rescind its decision and then a public meeting was held.

The meeting attracted about 200 people at the Westbury Town Hall and the petition was signed by about 500 people.

At the council meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Tanya King said it was obvious what the community wanted.

“We were given a clear direction about what the community do want and what they don’t want,” she said. 

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Councillor Michael Kelly said the community did not want to lose its “village feel”.

“We seriously need to listen to our community otherwise [the project] will fail,” he said.

The council will now work with user groups to review the project brief, prepare a new design and then call for tenders. 

Funds to determine the need for additional community facilities in Westbury will also be set aside in the council’s 2018/2019 budget. 

The same architect will be used for the redesign. The council’s general manager Martin Gill said his role would be to help the project improve. 

“I will ensure the architect gives the community what they want,” he said. 

Councillors Bob Richardson, John Temple and Rodney Synfield voted against the motion.