Andrew Mathieson and Alex de Vos
GEELONG councillors have thwarted a plan to transfer $60,000 from three Bellarine Peninsula sport and recreation projects to a State Government harbour study.
Ward councillor Tom O’Con-nor had wanted to withdraw funding from Catholic Regional College and Bellarine Secon-dary College oval upgrades and skate parks at Portarlington and Clifton Springs.
Cr O’Connor said the Gov-ernment’s Portarlington Safe Harbour Study was a “higher priority”.
The proposal would have halved the skate parks funding and left $10,000 from a budgeted $40,000 for the schools’ ovals. Council had not sought an increase in funding to offset the harbour study.
In seeking an endorsement from his colleagues at a council meeting this week, Cr O’Connor said residents would “do some of the work for nothing” on the projects.
Cr Bruce Harwood was unconvinced and demanded a stronger commitment.
“What’s going to happen next year then, Tom?” he asked.
Cr Shane Dowling said he felt “uncomfortable” about the transfer and initiated a vote against Cr O’Connor’s bid to shift funding.
Earlier this year Cr O’Connor successfully had council funding moved from the harbour study to a Bellarine Peninsula Railway project.
A concept plan for a safe harbour at Portarlington has been in the works since July, 2002.
The Independent revealed the $30 million plan last year.
Supporters claim the project would benefit recreational, tourist and commercial vessels.
A council report said the harbour project had “strong overall community support”.
State Government said a demand, engineering and environmental assessment, estimated at $300,000, was mandatory for the project to go ahead.
Council’s refusal to help pay for a study into the proposed Portarlington harbour project has “disappointed” Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville.
“It should have been in council’s budget,” Ms Neville said.
“They have been part of the project from the very beginning and had shown a commitment as one of their high priorities.
“The money shouldn’t have been subject to taking money from other groups.”
Ms Neville said she was still “committed” to moving the project forward regardless of whether council contributed funding.
“We’ll still proceed but will be refining the scope of the project to fit the budget,” she said.
“We’ll look at what we absolutely need and will look at other departments picking up parts of the project.”
