Council
3 February, 2024
City Oval sports funding back-up plan earns tick
Victoria’s decision to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games has opened up an unexpected source of potential funding for the development of new sports and recreation facilities in Horsham.
Victoria’s decision to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games has opened up an unexpected source of potential funding for the development of new sports and recreation facilities in Horsham.
Council resolved at its monthly meeting on Monday to apply for a $1 million state government grant towards its major renovation of the City Oval precinct - provided that the project first receives federal government support.
The total cost of work to create the City Oval community facility and changerooms has been put at $9,611,110.
Under a newly announced sports infrastructure funding program that will be delivered by Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV), Horsham Rural City Council hopes to receive $1 million towards this work to complement a grant request of $4,805,000 that is currently with the Commonwealth Growing Regions fund.
However, if HRCC is not able to lock in the federal support that it is seeking, either because it is unsuccessful or because the outcome is simply not announced in time, it will hedge its bets by seeking an alternative grant for a parallel project.
“As a back-up project, should council not be able to apply for the City Oval community facility, a second application is being developed to fund the first stage of the skate park redevelopment,” director of communities and place Kevin O’Brien told councillors on Monday afternoon.
The skate park project is described by council as being “shovel-ready”, meaning that all necessary preparations have been made so that work can begin as soon as the required financial backing is in place.
The next round of SRV funding applications will open in November, the outcome of which will be confirmed in March next year.
In his report Mr O’Brien said that in order to apply for the maximum available grant of $1 million for the skate park, council must agree to contribute one-fifth of the total project cost – in this case, $250,000.
“The concept plan for this project has been approved by council and all necessary documentation is available to make this a strong application,” he said.
“An amount of $250,000 has been included in council’s forward capital expenditure budget for 2024-25.”
It has been estimated that the first stage of construction at the skate park site will cost $1,539,165 overall, excluding GST, comprising:
• skate park and parkour $554,320 ex GST
• pump track and multipurpose court $288,290 ex GST
• play and gather $450,885 ex GST
• fitness and ninja, dirt track and jumps, and picnic space $245,670 ex GST.
In moving that council proceed with the application to SRV, Cr Claudia Haenel said it was “fiscally responsible for council to approve this recommendation for the City Oval community facility and changerooms”.
Cr Haenel added a question, however, noting that as the plans for the changerooms were now more than six months old, she wondered if there was scope for a second storey to be added to the custom-designed building to house a spectator viewing area.
Cr Les Power also spoke to the motion, saying: “We would be at fault if we didn’t take advantage of what the current Labor government is doing trying to get facilities for the community after what we now all see is one of the biggest downfalls in Victorian history in not going through with the Commonwealth Games.
“This is a great idea, and it will be even better if we’re one of the lucky ones that actually get support for our facilities here.”