Moorabool council has missed out on federal funding for an indoor pool in Bacchus Marsh.
Council applied to the government’s Thriving Suburbs Fund for $15 million towards the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
Council has already secured $10 million from the state government for the $45 million project, and plans to contribute $15 million in loan funding.
Had council secured federal funding, there would have been a funding shortfall of $5 million, which chief executive Derek Madden said council was hoping to work with other agencies to obtain.
“To reduce the cost of the pool to a lesser amount was not appropriate based on the documentation relating to the pool costs, and to indicate as part of the application process that council could increase its contribution to $20 million would not have been financially responsible,” Mr Madden said.
Star Weekly understands that council will meet with the federal infrastructure department to discuss the application and will work to secure the missing $5 million before applications open for 2025 grants.
