A close call for sports centre

A NARRE Warren North sports facility almost missed out on another chance to apply for a State Government grant this week, when a Casey councillor tried to have the application changed to include another planned development instead.
Casey deputy mayor Rob Wilson moved at Tuesday night’s council meeting that an application for a $500,000 State Government grant for the Narre Warren North Recreation Reserve and stage two pavilion works be changed.
Cr Wilson moved that the council instead seek funds for a planned community basketball stadium development in the Timbarra Estate, Berwick.
This would have been the second time that the Narre Warren North sports facility, to be located on Belgrave-Hallam Road, had missed out on the major facilities funding.
Only last year, the development missed out on funding after the council submitted a major funding application for the Narre Warren North Recreation Reserve as well as a Better Pools Application for the proposed Cranbourne Aquatic Centre development.
Government guidelines prevented the council from applying for more than one major category a year.
Cr Wilson’s move to change the application failed to attract support.
The funding application for the Narre Warren North sports development will now be lodged with Sports and Recreation Victoria.
Cr Wilson said applying for the grant would help kickstart the Timbarra development and meet the urgent need for basketball facilities in Casey’s north.
Cr Lorraine Wreford said she understood the desperate need for basketball facilities in Casey’s North but could not support the move, dubbing it ‘almost unbelievable’.
She said the council had a five-year capital works program for a reason and the council should stick to the priorities it set.
The council has signed a contract of sale to purchase land at Timbarra for the basketball stadium, but settlement has not yet been reached. A feasibility study into the development has been conducted and a report will soon be presented to the council.