WATTLE Range Mayoral candidate Des Noll has struck out at the State Government’s sustained focus on Kalangadoo amid cuts to the female facilities program and ongoing police staffing issues.
Mr Noll has slammed cabinet minister Corey Wingard, who holds the sport and recreation and police portfolio’s, for offering “no solution” to the Kalangadoo sporting community.
A $418,000 upgrade to the Kalangadoo War Memorial Park and Community Sports Club’s ageing facilities is now in limbo following the axing of a grant program which provided funding to develop female changerooms and amenities.
The project was underpinned by a State Government contribution of $313,000 – or 75pc of the total project cost – with a tripartite contribution from Kalangadoo’s community, netball and football club.
Wattle Range Council pledged $65,000 to the club pending the club receiving the State Government funding.
A new program initiated by the State Government requires councils and clubs to contribute at least 50pc of the project, with Mr Noll slamming it as a cost shifting measure.
When asked, Mr Wingard denied the new scheme sought to cost shift to local government, saying most of the projects were on council land and were council facilities.
Mr Noll expressed frustration with the minister’s comments, saying it was disappointing councils and clubs would be forced to wear the additional cost.
“The Kalangadoo sports committee has worked very hard to fundraise for this, but there is only so much they can take out of their community,” he said.
“The State Government has got to understand they cannot be cost shifting back to local government.
“Although I am pleased Mr Wingard met with key stakeholders to discuss the upgrades of the facility, the minister offered no solution to the community members that he met with.”
Mr Noll urged the minister to honour the successful grant recipients and reinstate funding to round four of the program.
“Here we are encouraging women’s participation in sport and the State Government is simply not supporting it in this region,” he said.
“We have 100 sports women sharing a toilet block of two showers and one toilet and a small and cramped change room.
“It is totally inadequate, especially when we are trying to promote equality within our community.
“I would be happy for the minister reconsider this and start redelivering services to regional areas, especially Wattle Range and Kalangadoo.
“It is difficult to understand why this Liberal Government is leaving Kalangadoo with no full-time police person and not supporting the Kalangadoo Sports Park’s application to develop a community asset.”
Mr Noll called on Premier Steven Marshall to dump Mr Wingard from the ministry after he said he was unable to direct the Police Commissioner on operational issues, including staffing the Kalangadoo station.
Mr Wingard later admitted he was able to issue a rare ministerial directive to restaff the station, but said he had “no intention” of doing so.
Ahead of the election, the State Liberals pledged to retain the single-officer station.
