Liam McNally
Moorabool council is “disappointed” with the lack of funding for its Maddingley pool project in the federal budget.
Council has committed $15 million to the indoor pool for the Taverner Street Sports Precinct, and has been lobbying the federal government for a final $15 million since the state government promised $10 million in May.
Moorabool council chief executive Derek Madden said he wanted to see more funding for Moorabool projects.
“It is disappointing the project wasn’t considered pre-election by either major party, and now not in the new overnment’s first budget, especially considering Member for Ballarat Catherine King committed to the project years ago as an election commitment,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Ms King said the Labor government decided to grant $7 million to the indoor pool in 2013 but that funding was cut under the following Coalition government.
“The incoming Liberal Coalition government axed some grants under the Regional Development Australia Fund, mostly in Labor seats. The Bacchus Marsh Indoor Swimming centre was one of eight funded projects in the Moorabool council area cancelled by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Nationals MP Warren Truss,” she said.
Mr Madden said the federal government changes to the Building Better Regions Fund might create opportunities in the future to fund projects such as the indoor pool.
“Council has been advocating for a change to how the Building Better Regions Program has been managed, and it was clear after many unsuccessful grants that Moorabool and other peri-urban councils were being disadvantaged,” he said.
The spokeswoman for Ms King confirmed this sentiment.
“The Building Better Regions Fund is being replaced by the Growing Regions program because of a number of severe shortcomings with the program outlined by the Australian National Audit Office, including as the Council CEO has identified, it was difficult for non-Government seats to get applications funded,” she said.
Mr Madden said council looks forward to receiving details of the new fund and welcomes improvements.
“We are confident that the work we have done over the last number of years in developing projects that meet the needs of the community will be recognised and supported by the Federal Government,” he said.
The government encouraged community groups and local councils to consider applying to the grant when applications open in early 2023.
The indoor pool now falls within the constituency of Hawke MP Sam Rae, who said he strongly supports the Bacchus Marsh pool.
“I’ll continue to work across all stakeholders to get it built,” he said.
