MOUNT Gambier City Council’s proposed multi-million dollar community sports and recreation hub has moved a step closer to reality with a massive funding boost under the Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin made the surprise announcement at Friday night’s Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Awards, stating $15m had been set aside for the project.
It will now be up to a vote of residents whether the council should accept the money to progress the project.
The $15m windfall would be the largest grant the city has ever received, eclipsing the $5m federal grant received for the construction of the Main Corner complex and library – previously the city’s most ambitious infrastructure partnership project.
Intermediate designs and draft financial modelling for the proposed hub were released last week with an estimated capital cost of $39.1m.
“The City of Mount Gambier made an application to the Regional Growth Fund and I can tell you the cabinet met on Tuesday night and authorised me to make a statement in terms of that deliberation,” Mr Pasin said at Friday night’s gala awards.
“The Federal Government wishes to support the project to the tune of $15m, conditional only on the community supporting the project,” Mr Pasin said.
“I wanted the business community to be the first to know – this will be the single largest grant the city will ever receive, three times as large as the grant received for the Main Corner.”
Council chief executive Mark McShane praised Mr Pasin for supporting the council’s funding bid.
“Council feels fortunate its expression of interest was able to stand out in a very competitive field,” Mr McShane said.
“Hundreds of applications submitted to the fund from regional cities and towns all over Australia are also vying for funds to improve their communities and boost their economy.
“The proposed facility promises to be the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history with the intermediate architectural designs, financial modelling and costings only just released.”
He said council considered the announcement a vote of confidence in the project.
“Council has always maintained it is committed to the development of a funding proposal that is ‘shovel ready’,” Mr McShane said.
“We have worked hard to do the background work to progress this during the past six months and now that documentation is ready, we will seek community endorsement to move the project forward.”
Market research company Market Solutions has been appointed to conduct a postal survey of more than 19,000 electors within the city to gauge community support for the project to determine if it will proceed.
The survey will include a “yes” or “no” question and will be distributed in late November, closing on December 21.
“Mr Pasin’s funding announcement, leading into the elector survey, provides the community with confidence about the project proceeding,” Mr McShane said.
“A community engagement program to inform the public about the proposed facility is scheduled to start after the council election.
“We look forward to engaging with the community about the proposed project to ensure electors are fully informed about the project before voting.”
Voting slips will be mechanically processed and council expects to receive the results by mid-January 2019.
Council will continue to lobby the State Government for additional funding, with support from Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell.
“This is a significant project and in November or December this year the community will decide whether it wants to proceed,” Mr Pasin said.
“The Federal Government wants to invest $15m in the project and now it is over to the people of Mount Gambier to decide.
“I am very much looking forward to the community poll – this is a great opportunity for our community and we will have a great debate over the next few months.”
