Show us the money

By Melissa Meehan
BEACONSFIELD Football Club president John Airdrie wants to know where government funding for the Holm Park Road development has gone amid news that the completion of the project will be pushed back for up to three years.
But Cardinia Shire councillor Collin Ross said the project was going to schedule and the club knew that funding would be a year- to-year process.
“Two ovals will be built by 2011 as promised, and the rest of stage one will definitely be completed as planned,” Cr Ross said.
Last week the Gazette reported that the club would not be able to use the ground for another three years as the club had to wait for funding for a new pavilion and change rooms.
Mr Airdrie said he was disappointed, as without adequate change rooms the senior club could not use the grounds for games.
But Cr Ross said the council was waiting on word from the club to approve or make changes to plans on the pavilion so architectural work could get started.
“We’ve said to them they can have $1.5 million for the pavilion which will include social rooms and change rooms,” Cr Ross said.
“And if they want things changed around – as long as it fits within the budget – we can work with them to get the desired outcome.”
He said funding for the design of the pavilion had been put aside, and while funding for the building works would be decided in this year’s budget it was important that the club continued to work with the council.
“Yes, the project – in stage one – has gone over budget,” Cr Ross said.
“But they were things that we couldn’t change, for instance the AFL changed the standard for lighting of grounds, which added quite a bit to what we budgeted for, not to mention added earthwork costs.”
Cr Ross said it was a case of wanting something more than what was on offer.
He said the club had indicated it wanted a new facility valued at $2.5 million, but it was difficult for the council, already with a two-million dollar black hole, to spend so much money on a pavilion. This is particularly so as the project was already costing up to 30 per cent of rates revenue, he said.
“If we spend that much money on one, we will have to do it for all, and to be honest we can’t afford to do that,” he said.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said Beaconsfield Football Club had a long and proud history.
“I am delighted that with State and Federal Government funding support, as well as council funding, the Holm Park Road Recreation Reserve will provide a magnificent new sporting venue for the club as well as for other sporting groups. My understanding is that council is meeting its previously stated financial commitment to the development of the reserve along with $500,000 in funding from the Brumby Government and $264,000 from the Federal Government.”
Councillor Brett Owen said council had a proven commitment to the project, and the club now needed to look to the other levels of government.
“The club really needs to make this a political issue at state and federal levels… Council’s commitment are proven with about $5 million funding so far.”
Council spokesman Paul Dunlop said the council understood that the club wanted the best possible results.
“We will continue to work closely with the club and other user groups of the reserve. Council has commitments all over the shire in terms of maintaining and improving sport and recreation facilities,” he said.
Mr Airdrie, who said the council’s stance was not good enough, met with Opposition spokesman for Sports and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty who, said he would try to get to the bottom of where the funding has gone.
“It is very disappointing that this club has expected to move in to the new premises and has been told it’s not a possibility,” he said.