By Olivia Condous
The Moorabool Shire council have supported regional development minister Catherine King’s call to review federal funding commitments on a merit basis, in order to restore integrity.
Ms King said that every funding commitment the Labor party made in the lead up to the election for community projects will be subject to a merits review, in order to ensure it will deliver value for money.
“We are determined to end the cycle of waste and rorts that has turned so many Australians off politics,” Ms King said.
“We will consider funding proposals on their merits.”
A release from Moorabool council stated chief executive Derek Madden welcomed the announcement from Ms King, as it was good news for the council’s advocacy for an indoor pool in Bacchus Marsh.
“Our indoor pool project has very significant council funding, with $15 million committed, and has state government funding of $10 million.
It has been fully scoped and designed, so it definitely stacks up against some of the proposed pool projects throughout the country,” Mr Madden said.
“There are pool projects where the local council is committing minimal funds but expecting massive government commitments, so we feel the review is timely and will highlight the strength of our proposal.”
Mr Madden said the council was willing to match funding commitments from the government and felt that, due to the fact there was no existing indoor pool in the shire, the project would meet the conditions of any audits by the minister.
The council are advocating for an indoor pool as part of the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) project, which will consist of an indoor sports stadium, regional bowls facility and an indoor aquatic centre.
The total cost of the project would be $52 million, with phase one expected to be completed in May next year.
