By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
CONFUSION surrounds the purpose of $454,000 in council funding to develop sport at Armstrong Creek.
Council this week approved the funding for a “strategic approach” to providing sport in the urban growth area but an associated item on the same meeting agenda said State Government would provide $500,000 for a sports master plan in Armstrong Creek’s east precinct.
The master plan would guide $7 million worth of developer contributions for sports facilities but council sport and recreation portfolio holder Cr Jock Irvine and a City Hall spokesperson were unable to explain the purpose of council’s own allocation.
The council plan’s first recommendation was “provision of dedicated sports development staff resources”.
“In lieu of an existing community, the sports development plan creates a road map for sport provision and delivery and a model that will lead growth and development in sport,” said a council report on the plan.
The report said $290,000 of the unbudgeted amount was “critical”, with the remainder for purposes of high to low priority.
“Where implementation of specific recommendations requires a new budget allocation from council, these will be presented and considered as part of the overall annual budget process.
“Opportunities for co-contributions from state sporting bodies, VicHealth, Leisure Networks, developers and Sport and Recreation Victoria are listed against specific actions in the plan.
“The strategy refers to actions to be undertaken by a sports development officer.
“Adoption of this strategy does not commit council to the employment of this position as it will be subject to usual budget process.
“These functions may be able to be undertaken via a reallocation of existing resources.”
