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Council to go ahead with Indoor sports stadium
THE Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Stadium at Bomaderry will go ahead regardless of the awarding of grants, as Shoalhaven City Council already has the funding for the construction in its existing budget, according to Director Corporate and Community Services Craig Milburn.
“Council is working closely with Zauner Construction in finalising the amended plans following the Joint Regional Planning Panel approval of the project in readiness for construction to commence later this year,” Milburn said.
“Reports that the project will not proceed are incorrect.
“While discussions around applying for federal funding for this and other projects was on the agenda at the Strategy and Assets Council meeting, Council determined not to submit an application for this project.
“Council already has the funds budgeted and is proceeding with the project.”
However Councillor Andrew Guile has refuted the claims, saying the project was not fully funded.
"We have set aside $4 million but that's not enough and it's the reason we were asking for an $8 million federal contribution," Guile said.
He said council could use funds from the still unapproved rates increase to make up the shortfall.
"But why would we? It's a meritorious project in its own right."
Plans for Shoalhaven sporting facility shafted
COUNCILLOR Andrew Guile has labelled council’s decision to dump the preferred Building Better Regions funding application one of the ‘lowest acts he’s ever witnessed as a councillor’.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Shoalhaven mayor Amanda Findley and former mayor Joanna Gash joined forces to dump council’s proposal, which included the long-term planning of the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre at Bomaderry.
Cr Guile, who chairs the Strategy and Assets committee that has the delegated powers of the full council, said the facility is now shovel ready.
He said it’s ideally suited for an Australian government injection of $8 million to go with Council’s contribution of $4 million that has been set aside since 2012.
“There was a briefing where it seemed that councillors and staff all agreed that this new centre to replace the old asbestos clad stadium next to Artie Smith Oval would have every success in the application,” Cr Guile said.
“However on the floor of council, this all turned sour particularly for Shoalhaven Basketball who has taken the lead in working with council staff to get this up and running.
“The Indoor Sports Centre is to cater for basketball, volleyball and netball and was cut to be replaced by the Bundanon Trust Riversdale Masterplan.
“This project is worth more than $28 million with $18 million to come from the State Government and the other $10 million from the Commonwealth, partnered by our council application.”
The new Riversdale masterplan will deliver a new art gallery, collection storage, a café/restaurant and additional accommodation for 64 people.
“Riversdale is a wonderful asset to have in our region and it has already received millions of taxpayers dollars to build an iconic centre on the Shoalhaven River,” Cr Guile said
“I’ve been there to hear some wonderful musical recitals and to share dinner with the Shoalhaven Business Chamber.
“The Glenn Murcut minimalist architecture sets off the views of the Shoalhaven River – stunning.
“However, if we are really serious about building better regions, surely our council should have its eyes on meeting the local needs of families and young people rather than gazing in awe at the national arts stage.
“I’m pleased that my colleagues are also protesting this ‘win’ for the elites.
“We will have another go at convincing councillors to see sense and support our own at an extraordinary meeting this coming Thursday, February 23 at 5pm.
“I hope as many as possible who have been looking forward to the Indoor Sports Centre will turn up to show support.”
Mayor defends decision
Mayor Amanda Findley said the decision to support the Riversdale project over the stadium was difficult but it ultimately came down to economics.
“Councillors are jeopardising multi-million dollar funding into the Shoalhaven,” she said.
“It was a very difficult decision to come to in some ways but the economic benefits for the Riversdale project far outweigh the economics of the basketball stadium.
“I have been accused of siding with the elitists, but I am more interested in the additional jobs that will be brought to the region – jobs in the construction phase and ongoing additional jobs that will service the new aspects of the Riversdale masterplan which includes new accommodation.
“Partnering with Bundanon Trust for the Riversdale project will help to realise this $27.3 million project if it is a successful application.
“The reality is that these funding opportunities are extraordinarily competitive and only the highest quality applications will even be in with a chance, so if council can offer leverage to achieve a $27.3 million project it is entirely appropriate to support Riversdale.”
She said it was a shame the Shoalhaven Independents had lodged a recession motion and forced council to reconvene on Thursday to have the same argument all over again, wasting council staff time and funds.
“In putting the rescission motion forward, the Independents have really jeopardised the whole process of lodging the applications for funding and the opportunity for 142 jobs during the construction phase and 59 ongoing jobs for our area,” Cr Findley said.
Shoalhaven Basketball’s John Martin hits out
Shoalhaven Stadium Development Committee’s John Martin and his team is furious with council’s backflip.
“We have been planning this sports facility for more than 12 years, or the life of three councils,” Martin said.
“We had already allocated a variety of money to the project, which was obviously still subject to JRPP – but we were hoping that construction could start in late March or early April.
“Obviously we knew the cost of the whole facility was going to be more than $14 million but we were doing all we could to help council by applying for different grants, such as the Building Better Regions, to raise the $8 million we need.
“This grant is something we had an eye on for some time, and with council’s original support, we were going to be ready for submission next week.
“We know there’s no guarantee that we will get the grant but we were hoping to receive some funds, to relieve the pressure on the council.
“Now we don’t even have their support and are number two on the pecking order – which has incensed us all greatly.”
One of Martin’s main concerns now is that the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre was supposed to be a step to one of the new sports facilities laid out for Bomaderry.
“This stadium was supposed to be the first stage of the upgrade to the whole sporting complex in Bomaderry but now it leaves the whole project in limbo,” Martin said.
“If council gets a shortfall of cash, we don’t want the quality of our fit-out to be diminished by inferior products and cutting corners.
“If this stadium is to host state, national and international events, as the Futsal guys had already lined up, we need the top materials available.
‘To be honest, it’s left us all scratching our heads with the complete lack of confidence we have with the council.”
Martin admits that the future of this project might hinge on the support of Federal Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis.