MOUNT Gambier City Council will receive a comprehensive feasibility report and concept plans for a proposed multi-million dollar indoor/outdoor sports and recreation centre by the end of June.
Council resolved in March to allocate $30,000 in this year’s budget to engage Simply Great Leisure (SGL) to prepare a feasibility study, concept plans, facility management options and a ratepayer impact report.
The lifestyle consulting practice was previously engaged by council to explore options for an indoor aquatic/recreation centre in 2006.
Council chief executive Mark McShane said SGL would present council with the relevant documentation by the end of this financial year.
“This concept has been on the boil for many years – I can trace it back to 1983,” Mr McShane said.
“The last study council commissioned in 2006 was comprehensive, but never made it to the design stage.
“SGL will refresh that study and the information will be tabled by council’s strategic standing committee by the end of June.”
Meanwhile, an expression of interest application for the Federal Government’s $272.2m Regional Growth Fund is under way.
“Councillors have formed a working party to assist with the process and this has involved sourcing input from a number of stakeholders,” Mr McShane said.
“The initial expression of interest will be completed before the application is due on April 27.
“If we are successful in making it to the next stage, we will have a further three months to submit a full application with all the necessary documentation.”
While hesitant to speculate on potential rate increases if the project was to go ahead, Mr McShane offered examples from other regional centres.
“I try to avoid using figures because we don’t know how much this facility will cost until we have the design finalised,” he said.
“The kicker will be the ongoing operating cost – this facility will not be cheap to run – and other locations with similar facilities indicate the centre will cost us anywhere between $1m and $1.5m per year.
“In Victor Harbor rates were increased by $104 and in the Barossa rates went up by $59 – both councils introduced a stepped rate increase over four years.”
Council will consider the expression of interest application at a special meeting on April 24.
