Councillors approved a funding boost to get upgrades for the Wilf Cox Pavillion across the line.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
Essential safety works, including asbestos removal and structural reinforcement, have expanded the scope of the Wilf Cox Pavilion upgrades, prompting Campaspe Shire Council to dip back into the budget to keep the project on track.
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At its mammoth March council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to put extra funds behind the project after finding extra works were needed.
The additional work covers essential safety upgrades including asbestos removal, security improvements, roof repairs, structural reinforcement, plumbing updates and various construction requirements.
While half of the funding push came from essential works, the other half came from further negotiations with user groups.
The user group committee presented the need for a new entry and foyer space for the elevator proposed to go in, home change rooms alterations including the removal of a team meeting room, and an anticipated relocation of the foyer entry.
In the meeting, council agreed to draw the necessary funds from the capital works budget to cover these combined estimates, ensuring the first stage could be completed properly.
The amount necessary to be drawn from the budget was undisclosed while negotiations with contractors took place, however estimates for the extra works were well above $350,000.
Supporting the funding boost, Cr Zoe Cook warned user groups to expect some delays due to the expanded scope of work.
Cr Jessica Mitchell spoke for the motion, but highlighted potential errors in council’s consultation with user groups when it came to these types of projects.
“I think it just really highlights the risks of council making decisions without revisiting conversations with communities and user groups,” she said.
“Sometimes those needs change and I think for this one there were some differences in the expectation and needs.”
And while the meat and potatoes of upgrades will be completed around the football finals, prospects of a looming stage two have already got the community buzzing with ideas to make the Kyabram Recreation Reserve a pinnacle sporting facility.
Kyabram Football Netball Club president John Guinan is looking forward to the prospects of a stage two of upgrades to the Kyabram Recreation Reserve.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
One of the user groups that were in consultations with council was Kyabram Football Netball Club, which is hoping a second stage will tick a few more boxes to bring the facility up to standard.
Topping club president John Guinan’s wish list for stage two are a new access ramp, an upgraded kitchen and a dedicated netball foyer to complement the stage one change rooms.
While Mr Guinan hasn’t heard much of the progress for plans of the second stage since consultation, it is believed further planning and fundraising for the development will begin after stage one construction has wrapped up.
