By MICHELLE HERBISON
LIBERAL MP Simon Ramsay has criticised council and the opposition for “finger-pointing” over State Government funding for Ocean Grove’s Shell Rd sporting precinct.
The Member for Western Victoria hit out at Bellarine MP Lisa Neville and ward councillor Jan Farrell’s complaints that Government funding was unavailable for facilities that would allow sport clubs to relocate to Shell Rd.
“The fact is there has been no application for funds by the City of Greater Geelong to the State Government for a specific purpose for Shell Reserve,” Mr Ramsay said.
“So here we are now with little soccer clubs having to change in the car park, the Ocean Grove Football Club with substandard change rooms not knowing when and if they are to be relocated, the City of Greater Geelong dithering over a master plan and Ms Farrell blaming all and sundry for inaction but not wanting to dip into her own ward slush fund to kick-start the process.”
Ms Neville called Mr Ramsay’s comments “misleading to the community”.
“The reason City of Greater Geelong haven’t put in an application is that the State Government grant is only for $650,000. Our one used to be $2 million and we increased it to $5 million – $650,000 will not get the job done.”
Ms Neville said the reserve required a pavilion and change-rooms, costing about $5 million.
Council would be unlikely to receive more than one grant if it successfully applied for the $650,000, she said.
“If you just built a change room you may never get anything else. If Simon Ramsay is keen and supportive of this project, the Government needs to reassess their community sport grant programs.”
Cr Farrell said council was “not dithering”, having completed a Shell Rd sports precinct master plan in 2010.
“In fact, the detailed design of the pavilion has commenced and has reached a hold point until state funding is forthcoming.”
Cr Farrell said the $650,000 grant funding available would represent less than 10 per cent of the Shell Rd works total budget.
“Council has and will continue to call upon the state to contribute a greater share than that.
Federal Government had funded completed netball courts, a cricket pitch and a car park, Ms Neville said.
