The meeting began at 2pm. After the usual preliminaries, focus moved to the major item on the agenda, the amalgamation of council services at the Biripi Way site, aka, the old Masters building.

Clowns to the left, clowns to the right. There were more motions put than one could poke a stick at. At one stage I feared a blockage ... in proceedings!

It took a little over two hours of argy-bargy, what I observed as repeat texting between two councillors, the occasional heated outburst by a few councillors, rightful applause and boos from the standing room only gallery, before some semblance of a half decent motion was eventually carried.

We are now, finally, at a point where a proper cost-benefit analysis will be carried out; hopefully, by independent and experienced reviewers in a more professional environment.

This is something that should have been done long, long ago.

As a by the by, who deemed it necessary for council to have four contracted security personnel on site, just in case the crowd (average age 60 plus) became unruly? 

The cost of this totally unnecessary expense could have paid for the much- needed improvement to the near useless PA system.

This was a major complaint by many at the meeting. 

There is a far greater priority than the proposed amalgamation of council staff at the 'tin shed'. 

There needs to be an amalgam of common sense, of common purpose and, with certain provisos, doing what the ratepayers want.

This continued and protracted toing and froing is most unprofessional and a complete and utter waste of time and money.