MILDURA Council has been urged to put “greater pressure” on the Victorian Government to provide more funding for the Mildura South Sporting Precinct.
The state has committed $3 million towards the first stage of the two-step development compared to Federal Government funding of $17.5 million and a further $9.479 million from council coffers.
During a visit to Mildura in September last year, Victoria’s Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said he would be a “passionate advocate” for precinct funding.
Council and stakeholders have identified a $10 million funding shortfall and Mr Pakula described their case for further funding as “compelling”.
However, despite repeated pleas the State Government has so far refused to step in with more money for the project.
Council sport and recreation portfolio councillor Glenn Milne has asked council to have further discussions about pressing the state for more money.
Cr Milne said a recent announcement by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews of 11 per cent unemployment, 10 per cent drop in house prices, over 250,000 people out of jobs in Victoria was going to place going to be some huge pressures and Mildura would not be isolated.
“We really need to be putting some pressure on to see some money coming in because I believe we’re going to need it,” Cr Milne said.
Council CEO Sarah Philpott said the issue of funding for the Mildura South Sporting Precinct had already been flagged, along with other potential funding for infrastructure projects.
“We can certainly have a further discussion about that,” Ms Philpott said.
“Certainly, the importance of capital works and these types of projects for our economy goes without saying, so we can pursue that further,” she said.
The precinct will include a six-court indoor stadium, an AFL standard sporting oval, café and changerooms, dedicated squash courts and a secondary sporting oval.
The squash courts, a second multipurpose sports field, outdoor beach volleyball and outdoor netball courts are included in Stage 2 plans and will be reliant on future funding opportunities.
The the $36.5 million multipurpose sporting precinct is forecast to be ready for use by mid-2021 with the AFL-standard ground to host games from the start of the 2022 Sunraysia Football Netball League season.
South Mildura Sporting Club has been chosen by council as the preferred home-based club at the new facility.
