MOUNT Gambier City Council will conduct a broad survey on the proposed Mount Gambier Regional Sport and Recreation Centre after local government elections in November.
An estimated budget of $65,000 will be set aside for the process and the survey will be open to every Mount Gambier resident registered on the electoral roll.
“Consistent with our caretaker policy, council will go into a caretaker period from September 4 until mid-November, which means a comprehensive elector survey about the proposed facility will be held as soon as practicable after the election in November,” Mayor Andrew Lee said.
“Importantly, electors comprise those on the electoral roll, which includes both ratepayers and non-ratepayers as it does for the local government elections.”
Meanwhile, council will continue to develop concept plans, documentation, financial analysis and cost estimates to inform the community about the operating costs of the proposed multi-million dollar facility.
“The wording and content of the community survey questions will not be finalised until council is satisfied sufficient information has been obtained to create an appropriate survey and the community has been further informed about the proposal,” Mr Lee said.
“Council has endorsed an estimated budget of $65,000 from the 2018/19 forecast operating surplus, which includes the engagement of external specialist support to conduct the survey.”
Despite objection from Cr Steve Perryman, a community reference group representing local schools, swim clubs, allied health care providers, sporting/recreation clubs and other community groups to inform the design of the facility will go into recess for the duration of the election period.
“As elected members, we should remove ourselves, but we should not isolate community group members who want to have an input,” Cr Perryman argued at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“The reference group should still be included in the process.”
Council is seeking $20m from the Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund and a $10m State Government contribution towards the project.
Council will work to progress funding applications further and contribute up to $10m if it determines the majority of the community supports the project.
“We understand the decision as to whether or not our expression of interest for federal funding is successful has been delayed by two months until at least late October,” Mr Lee said.
“This means we will not know if we have been invited to apply for stage two of the process until closer to the elections.”
Council resolved that proceeding with the full grant funding submission to both federal and state governments would be dependent on council’s confirmation of the project’s readiness, business case and a majority of community support, as determined by the survey.
“Alternatively, the council may consider applying for any subsequent rounds of federal and state funding,” Mr Lee said.
Council will investigate possible financial contributions from neighbouring council areas.
“Before the caretaker period commences, Architects Design Inc Adelaide and CO-OP Studio Melbourne will be in Mount Gambier on August 28 and September 3 to meet with the community reference group to discuss the concept, building plans, sports court surfaces and metrics,” Mr Lee said.
“They will provide updated floor plans, 3D images of the proposed building and pool plant options.”
