Aquatic reserve funding debate comes back to Campaspe Shire Council tonight

By Lachlan Durling

Jul 21, 2020

TONIGHT the debate on whether to accept or reject $3 million in Victorian Government funding will come back before Campaspe Shire councillors.

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After five councillors voted to turn down the funding for Echuca’s Aquatic Reserve and to not progress a business case for an entertainment precinct at the June ordinary council meeting, Cr Daniel Mackrell filed a rescission motion to reverse the decision in the hopes to bring the debate back before councillors at the August meeting.

Meaning tonight, councillors will vote again on whether they stand by their June decision.

Councillors Vicki Neele, Kristen Munro, Adrian Weston, Annie Vickers and John Zobec voted against progressing a business case for the Echuca Entertainment Precinct and accepting the state government cash, as they felt they did not have enough information to make a decision.

Councillors Leanne Pentreath, Leigh Wilson, Neil Pankhurst and Daniel Mackrell voted in favour of the Echuca Entertainment Precinct.

Former Campaspe Shire councillor and local business owner Paul Jarman said he was dumbfounded when hearing of the decision to decline the funding.

“If councillors did feel as though they needed more time to consider the item, they should have laid it on the table to consider at the next meeting,” he said.

“Instead, there is a meeting at 5.30 tonight with $3 million swinging, and when I asked to speak to the item, I wasn’t allowed.”

But council said as the item is a procedural motion to rescind the June decision and put the plans back on the table for consideration for the August meeting, the public is not allowed to speak to the item at this meeting.

“I feel as though they are hiding behind process, as a ratepayer I wanted to voice concerns, it’s not 10m of footpath outside a house, it’s a project that affects the town," Mr Jarman said.

“A project that has already had money put into it, with hundreds of thousands already invested.”

In October 2018 council allocated $102,000 from the Echuca Community Planning Implementation funds and Council Cash for the development of a detailed design for Aquatic Reserve.

An additional $150,000 for the project was secured from the state government, with a requirement to create a business case for the ‘Echuca Entertainment Precinct’ to include the Wharf Cargo Shed, rollingstock, Onion Patch and connecting pathways on the riverfront.

“The message is clear, it’s about encouraging people to watch tonight’s meeting and keep people accountable for the decisions they make that affect our community,” Mr Jarman said.

Tonight’s Campaspe Shire Council meeting is livestreamed tonight at 5.30pm at campaspe.vic.gov.au

By Lachlan Durling

Multimedia journalist