By Mitchell Clarke
An outspoken ratepayer will run for council at the next election, determined to call out “faceless bureaucrats”, after he claims Cardinia Shire Council has blocked over $7 million in funding towards community sporting projects.
Officer’s Andrew McNabb has challenged the council for answers regarding the status of number of projects, some of which received Federal Government funding in 2016.
The projects include upgrades to the Toomuc Reserve in Pakenham, the Officer Recreation Reserve, Gembrook Recreation Reserve and the Upper Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve.
“This blocked money should be creating buildings and sports grounds and jobs in our local community,” Mr McNabb said.
“Instead millions of dollars in federal funding has been held up by council ‘red tape’. The ‘council machine’ isn’t serving the people.”
Toomuc Reserve received $4.5 million of Federal funds in the lead-up to this year’s Federal Election to extend the northern pavilion, redevelop the southern pavilion and improve little athletics and baseball facilities, but Mr McNabb claims council timelines won’t see the project complete until 2022/23, meaning girls football teams will be required to change in the car park for the next three years.
Cardinia Shire Council confirmed the estimated completion date of the northern pavilion project is May 2021.
“Reserve committees and clubs are encouraged to manage the existing change facilities in a way that can cater for all users as best possible and until such time as the upgraded facilities can be delivered,” council’s liveable communities manager Tracey Parker said, when asked about girls change rooms.
Mr McNabb said projects like these are taking “far too long” to come to fruition, with construction works at the Officer Recreation Reserve and Gembrook Recreation Reserve yet to begin.
“This isn’t good enough. The council needs to own up to the mess it has allowed its processes to make,” he added.
“We need facilities for kids, the crime rate is rising, we need kids off the street, we need participation, there’s nothing better than getting kids involved with sport.”
It’s understood the schematic design of the Officer Recreation Reserve had been completed and council was working with the Officer Sporting Club to finalise the design.
During the 9 December general meeting, a tender was awarded for the Gembrook Recreation Reserve, which will see the construction of two netball courts and new lighting, shelters and fencing.
Meanwhile, the scope of the Upper Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve project had been developed with all existing pavilion user groups and a consultant was being engaged to prepare the concept plans.
But Mr McNabb believes council ’red tape’ has stalled the projects, claiming Cardinia Shire Council was “very behind” in delivering projects, when compared to other municipalities.
“When Jason Wood has gone out and fought and got the money for community and we’re being held up by council bureaucrats, it’s not good enough,” he said.
“This community should not have to wait for three years to have these facilities made.
“We want to know why, where is the money and why are they holding it up?”
The Gazette asked Cardinia Shire Council to respond to claims these projects had been stalled.
“Council remains committed to progressing the project works (including seeking funding, scoping, design, community consultation and tendering) to deliver these projects for the community,” Ms Parker said.
