GRANT District Council heard from its Mount Gambier city counterpart last Wednesday night about a proposed multi-million dollar indoor/outdoor sports and recreation centre.
The facility would likely feature three or four multi-use indoor courts, including a show court with retractable seating, an indoor aquatics facility, smaller specialty pool, gym or allied health area, kiosk, creche, administration office and change rooms while the aquatic centre’s 50m outdoor pool would remain.
After an informal presentation about the project, Mount Gambier City Council chief executive Mark McShane fielded questions from elected members.
Councillor Alan Hill immediately addressed the elephant in the room when he asked if City Council would seek funding from other regional councils.
“Would you anticipate this council might have to consider any funding to assist with the project next financial year?” Cr Hill asked.
Mr McShane said he did not expect to see “boots on the ground” for at least three years and indicated any funding requests would be “some time coming”.
“Our council will obviously consider those issues as we move forward and a formal approach will be made depending on the resolution,” he said.
While Mr McShane said City Council would likely introduce a stepped rate increase over three or four years to help cover operating costs, Cr Barry Kuhl raised the potential issue of rate capping under the new Liberal State Government.
“The development of rate capping legislation needs to get through both houses of parliament and that might be an issue,” Mr McShane said.
“There is a caveat on rate capping in terms of allowing a degree of leniency where councils can apply to have higher rates – particularly if they have a community mandate.”
Cr Julie Reis asked if a hydrotherapy pool had been included in concept plans.
“I have had discussions with Gillian McGinty at Boandik where they were successful in securing State Government funding for their own hydrotherapy pool,” Mr McShane said.
“The jury is still out on that one – they are waiting on the mid-year Building Better Regions Fund announcement so it will depend on whether Boandik is successful in achieving federal funding.”
Cr Graham Slarks said his concern was that the 25m indoor heated pool would be “replicating what is already in the town” at privately owned facilities.
“Most of the indoor pools in regional areas are 25m because when planning this type of facility other councils found the price to run an indoor 50m pool is cost prohibitive,” Mr McShane explained.
“Of course that is why we will engage the experts to ensure we get the most bang for our buck.”
City Council announced last month it would allocate $30,000 in this year’s budget towards concept plans and feasibility studies ahead of a bid for federal funding.
