Sutherland Shire Council will fast-track a new amenities building and clubhouse on flood-prone Scylla Oval at Como, but only if the sporting club that uses the site contributes $455,000 of the estimated $1.2 million price.
A report which went before the August 3 infrastructure projects and works committee had recommended supporting an internal loan funding option to allow the project to proceed.
The deal was contingent on Como Jannali Junior Rugby League Club coming up with some of the funds, but a figure was not specified.
Councillors at the committee voted for a motion by mayor Kent Johns and councillor Scott Williams that the council reiterate it was willing to approve a maximum expenditure of only $745,000, in accordance with its policy.
The funds would come from section 94 contributions and the reallocation of money in the 2016-17 budget.
They also asked for a further report on the ‘‘most appropriate and best-value location’’ for the building, taking into consideration the realignment of the playing fields, and that the works be undertaken in accordance with the council’s policies and procedures, following an open tender.
The matter was listed in Monday night’s full council meeting but not called for mention.
Had the council staff recommendations been accepted, work on preliminary studies and design could have begun as early as next month and been completed by December 2016.
Club members raised allegations earlier this year that sewage was coming up through the toilets inside the clubhouse during heavy rain and flooding the field. A building report by a club member backed up these claims.
The council had previously approved plans to rebuild the clubhouse on a higher level to protect it from flooding, but the project was not to be funded until the 2018-19 financial year.
When the council initially refused to bring forward the rebuilding, questions were asked about what had happened to developer contributions over the past 10 years which were meant for that work.
The council resolved in May to seek an urgent building condition report on the clubhouse and to begin rebuilding.
The council then called for a report on funding models and to immediately start the required development application process.The report that went before the committee last week now said the the council would ‘‘demolish the existing facility and construct a new amenities building and clubhouse with financial support from the club’’as a ‘‘staged priority’’ in a ‘‘co-funding partnership arrangement’’ with the club, including finding possible sponsors and grants. It put the cost at $1.2 million and said funds would be brought forward from the 2017-18 and 2018-19 10-year plans so construction could start sooner. The report detailed several funding options but said an internal loan was the best.
WHO PAYS?
One of the major sticking points between the council and the club for many years has been who should pay for the rebuilding.
While council policy states amenities buildings are its concern, it is up to individual sporting clubs to build and maintain clubhouses.
One writer made this point when commenting on previous Leader stories: ‘‘It’s my understanding that councils don’t own clubhouses, they own public facilities like toilets. Clubhouses are owned and run by the clubs themselves. I am also a member of a club in the area. We have just recently raised the funds within our club and spent $400,000 on building our new clubhouse.’’
Do you think this is a good outcome?
