Mount Gambier is one step closer to the construction of an indoor pool and recreation centre after the city council showed its support for the project during a meeting this week.
Interest in the facility was sparked after four of the city’s major sporting codes started a grassroots campaign to push the project forward.
The momentum led to a community meeting held at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre last night.
At Tuesday’s monthly meeting, council moved to establish a working party, including the mayor, three elected members, council’s chief executive and city growth manager, along with relevant stakeholders to drive the project and develop an expression of interest for the Federal Government’s $272.2m Regional Growth Fund.
“There has been a whole lot of different activity by different groups that have all converged on this point,” Cr Steve Perryman said.
“This has been an ongoing discussion and investigation for council for decades and it was never the case that council didn’t want to go ahead with this – whenever council has visited this on previous occasions there hasn’t been widespread community support.
“We are not doing something to or for the community, rather through this process we will have the opportunity to work with the community.”
Council will collate a feasibility study, concept plans, facility management options and a ratepayer impact report before committing to the project.
“We have kicked this stone around for 35 years – since as early as 1983 I believe – and I think it’s time to break that cycle and see if we can make it work,” Cr Frank Morello said.
“It won’t be cheap and yes there will be a cost burden, but I believe it will have economic and social benefits as well and that’s what we are exploring through this process.
“If there is a clear mandate from the community to progress the issue we will have all the preliminary documentation at our disposal – I think it’s a win-win for the community and for sporting groups.”
Cr Mark Lovett, who voted against the motion, argued allocating $30,000 to prepare the documentation was a “waste of money”.
“We have 14,034 rateable properties and that really limits our funds – this will be a burden on ratepayers,” Cr Lovett said.
“We already have commercial indoor recreational centres and indoor pools in the city.”
While discussion continued about ongoing maintenance and running costs, Cr Christian Greco suggested elected members were getting ahead of themselves.
“The conversation we are having right now is putting the cart before the horse,” he said.
“Right now we are looking at preparing the documentation and getting our ducks in a row – we don’t know how much this will cost, that’s exactly what this process is for.”
Cr Des Mutton said elected members who refused to support the project were “standing in the way of progress”.
“When I visited similar centres across the state I came back convinced Mount Gambier needs one of these centres if it is going to continue to grow and be the city this council wishes it to be,” he said.
“The project needs to be community driven and we are seeing a rising up of the community at the moment, so we are well on the way.”
Council chief executive Mark McShane estimated the facility would cost around $25m to build with an annual operating cost of about $1.5m.
“Obviously a project of this magnitude would require funding from all three tiers of government and other stakeholders to get it off the ground,” he said.
“The application for the federal funding program is in two parts, the first is an initial expression of interest.
“If the application fits the criteria and is accepted, we have three months to complete a formal application to be considered by the Federal Government.”
