LACK of State Government support has forced Mildura Council to splash an additional $1.48 million of ratepayers’ money to fund the region’s largest sporting precinct development.
The decision follows debate at Wednesday’s meeting, where councillors voted to raise the council’s contribution to almost $10 million.
The Federal Government has committed $17.5 million to see the $36.5 million multi-purpose precinct come to life, while the Victorian Government has only put in $3 million.
The council’s community general manager Martin Hawson said the council would have been “in breach of its funding agreement” with the government if councillors did not support the additional spend.
“If they didn’t approve the spend, we would have had to go back and re-look at the scope of the project, which would mean looking at critical elements of the project,” he said.
“The biggest issue we would have would be the size of the court hall … we would have to look into reducing that and some of the other critical aspects like the oval.
“It would limit the functionality, but it would also put us in a little bit of a bind with our commitments to our funding partners to deliver on those particular elements.”
Sport councillor Glenn Milne was the only elected member to vote against the extra spend.
Cr Milne said councillors should not have been in the position of needing to vote in the first place.
“I find it very hard to support and ask our community to fund what really should be funded by the State Government … it’s an issue of principle,” he said.
“My concern is there going to be another call … there’s going to be extras.
“This could end up being somewhere between $11 million to $13 million we have to spend. We need to be aware of that. If it blows out at all, we’re in for extra money.”
Cr Milne drew a comparison to the Eureka Sporting Precinct in Ballarat, which received more than $10 million in funding from the State Government.
“I’ve had a look at Ballarat and they built a sports centre … $24 million … six courts,” he said.
“They got $10 million from the Federal Government, originally $9 million from the state and then $5 million that the council put in. This is a council twice the size of us.
“We’re putting in $9.47 million of ratepayers’ money, when Ballarat is twice as big. The State Government needs to think hard about that.”
Mayor Simon Clemence voted for the council’s recommendation, but agreed with Cr Milne the State Government’s input was “disappointing”.
“It is very disappointing the state government hasn’t been more forthcoming … but we did speak to Martin Pakula more recently who indicated he was in favour of the project and he should be able to get some additional funding in the next two or three budgets for what will become stage two of the project,” he said.
The $1.48 million will enable stage 1 upgrades to the main oval including a turf wicket, a secondary fence, feature entrance gates and tower upgrades for lighting.
Preparatory ground works, increased pavilion size, upgraded roof structure for solar power and an additional 2.8 metres of space in the court hall will also be completed with the funding.
Mr Hawson confirmed works for stage 1 of the project would start next month.
“There will be some preliminary works before Christmas and then they’ll be right into it after Christmas,” he said.
How each Mildura councillor voted
Simon Clemence, mayor, FOR
“It is disappointing we haven’t got the money from the State Government and we’re going to have to kick in more of our own. That’s a state of play we should not be in.
“The State Government should have picked up the tab. But at this point of time we’re at a critical junction where if we don’t approve this money, we will have a less than exact sporting facility … it will be undersized … things will be missing.”
Glenn Milne, sports councillor, AGAINST
“My question is, do we be brave, stop and sit down in front of the State Government and say, ‘Come up with some money so we can do this properly and not put our council at risk?’ … that’d be a big, brave call.
“I find it very hard to support, and ask our community to fund, what really should be funded by the State Government.
“It’s an issue of principle.”
Mark Eckel, tourism councillor, FOR
“We’ve sent off a letter to the Premier. He raised with me that he does not like to see a project incomplete. Well, Mr Premier, I’m telling you … your contribution has put us here.
“We’re in a position now where we need to dip into hard-earned ratepayers’ money.
“$17.5 million from the Federal Government is 58 per cent of the project … $9.47 million from council is 32 per cent and $3 million from the State Government is 10 per cent. Mr Premier, not good enough.”
Helen Healy, community development councillor, FOR
“I think it’s unfortunate there is a glaring accounting issue with what the State Government has contributed and I would like to see us pursue the request we made to the Premier when he was here to announce the hospital to look into getting more funds.
“We cannot compromise all the hard work that has gone on for such a long time.”
Min Poole, Community wellbeing councillor, FOR
“Because we’ve already changed the scope, taken things back and had many, many delays … I support to reduce the delays and actually see this project stage 1 through, at least.
“There are concerning times coming for our community and I think we need more positivity and this could be a part of achieving that.”
Greg Brown, infrastructure and transport councillor, FOR
“It will make it better for people to come to Mildura and spend money. It would also be great to have a grand final there instead of at the harness club.
“It’s a positive move for the future.”
Anthony Cirillo, environment councillor, FOR
Did not speak on the issue.
Gavin Sedgmen, councillor, FOR
Did not speak on the issue.
Jason Modica, deputy mayor, was absent
