At the time, the then Newcastle Art Gallery was used by the council as an example of why the new rate was required. It needed a new roof as the gallery leaked, and the air-conditioning system needed a complete makeover to protect the valuable art collection. I pointed out that these needs were predictable, right from when the gallery was built, and that if the council had had a properly funded maintenance plan for the gallery, these items could have proceeded routinely, with no new rate.
