By Corey Everitt
Cardinia Shire Council has presented a revised draft plan for a new pavilion at the Upper Beaconsfield Reserve.
This is a new draft plan after the previous one was shot down by locals and after discussion with local Labor MPs.
The new plan would see the existing building demolished and the construction of a new, double-storey pavilion.
The council’s manager active and connected communities, Kristen Jackson, explained the plan.
“The council officers presented a proposal for a two-storey modular new community, sport and Scout facility to the Upper Beaconsfield Reserve Committee of Management for their consideration and response to council,” she said.
“The draft new proposal is a complete replacement of the existing facility on the existing site and has a high-level cost estimate of $7.2m.
“Council hopes it will be able to retain all the GSF funding and Federal Government funding for this new proposal, but this will need State and Federal Government approval.”
The project was initiated last year when the council successfully applied for a grant from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF).
The application set a total funding of $9.584m, with $3.35m from the State Government, $3.7 from the council budget, $500,000 from the Federal Government and an extra $2.034m added by the council.
However, the council overlooked the element of changing the established roads that would be needed with the project.
A road runs around the reserve’s oval where it passes between the oval and the front of the pavilion.
The original plan proposed moving the pavilion forward to eliminate the road between it and the oval.
The work required to then rearrange traffic flow for the original plan was considered and the cost skyrocketed well above $9.5m.
In response, last month the council presented a new plan that was greatly scaled back, a renovation costing only around $4m.
The committee of management for the reserve and the user groups rejected the revised plan, angered over the backtrack of the council and the new plan not addressing the pavilion’s issues.
While local MP Michael Galea, along with MP Emma Vulin, intervened to ensure the State Government’s grant, the biggest thus far for the fund, would be used appropriately.
The revised plan this week does not encompass the full funding of the original proposal, however, Michael Galea looks hopeful for the best outcome.
“I had a very productive meeting with Cardinia CEO Carol Jeffs and her team last week to ensure that the revised plans recently presented to Upper Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve user groups were significantly improved,” he said.
“The new plans presented last Monday include an impressive custom built facility which will address the major issues faced by user groups at the current facility.”
Mr Galea appreciates the community for standing up for what they were promised.
“I congratulate and thank the committees of the user groups for bringing this matter to my attention and I am pleased that council have been so responsive to their concerns and those of local MPs,” he said.
“The State Government remains committed to the $3.35 million we are providing to this important project through the Growing Suburbs Fund.”
Bob Taylor, the chairman of the reserve committee of management, is glad they have made progress, but is still cautious.
“Us and the user groups think it’s a good starting point,” he said.
“People like most of all that it will knock the existing pavilion down and building a whole new building, not just renovate.
“We all have many questions and finer details to go over in the future, but the thought is that it’s OK.”
Mr Taylor’s concern going forward is about the decision to keep it on the exact location, which is done to prevent the cost exercise of changing traffic flows.
“My issue now is that it doesn’t include getting rid of the road,” he said.
“The cost of it is high to change traffic flows, but there is no other place that has a road directly between our pavilion and the oval.
“We had to install a gate to stop people from flying through in front.”
The consultation with the cuncil will continue for some weeks with the final cost to be finalised in the council’s 2023-24 budget.
