Rodney Stevens
The Grafton Memorial Pool redevelopment is closer to ‘turning the first sod’ after Clarence Valley Council earmarked $15.8 million toward its construction by identifying two additional funding streams.
At the November 22 CVC meeting, Cr Karen Toms moved a rescission motion to divert the $882,000 proceeds from the sale of the South Grafton Visitor Information Centre to funding the new Grafton pool.
In September, councillors resolved that the proceeds be quarantined for ‘Future Economic Development and Tourism Projects’.
Cr Toms said she had intended to put forward the rescission motion at the September council meeting, but she was ill and had to leave early.
“I feel quite strongly that the Grafton Memorial Pool project is our ‘priority one’ project that needs funding, above everything else,” Cr Toms said.
Speaking against Cr Tom’s motion, Cr Jeff Smith said the motion passed in September was left broad so there was flexibility with how the money could be used.
“I don’t understand the reasoning for this rescission motion in that it narrows the availability of that money and specifically earmarks it for the pool and the pool only, there is no chance of using that money anywhere else,” he said.
The rescission motion, which was supported by Cr’s Toms, Novak, Whaites, Pickering and Johnstone, was passed in a 5-4 vote.
A Regional Aquatic Centre funding strategy was then considered at the meeting, which sought council’s endorsement to request the Department of Regional NSW to transfer Bushfire Local Economic Recovery funding of $11.1 million, which was earmarked for the Treelands Drive Community Centre, to be used for the pool redevelopment.
Council staff recommended the council seek the transfer of bushfire funding, plus the support of Chris Gulaptis and Kevin Hogan for the transfer of the funding and endorse the funding strategy for stage 1 of the aquatic centre.
This would result in delayed commencement of construction of Treelands Drive Community Centre to July 2024, with completion proposed by December 2026.
Cr Karen Toms moved the motion to support the council staff recommendation, which was seconded by Cr Debrah Novak.
Councillors voted 7-2 to lodge a request with the Department of Regional NSW to transfer the $11,107,882 in Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) funds originally allocated to Treelands Drive Community Centre (TDCC) to the pool project.
The motion was supported by councillors Greg Clancy, Bill Day, Debrah Novak, Steve Pickering, Jeff Smith, Karen Toms and Allison Whaites.
These decisions could see available funds grow to a total of $15,820,427 towards the project, which is estimated to cost between $20-25 million.
Mayor Ian Tiley said council was committed to delivering a new Aquatic Centre as soon as possible.
“Council is absolutely committed as its highest priority to provide a pool in North Grafton as soon as humanly possible,” Cr Tiley said.
“Council expressed it is still committed to doing the Treelands Drive upgrade, and a report at the December meeting will put forward the available options.
“The transfer of BLER is intended to expedite construction of the Regional Aquatic Centre to reduce the length of closure.
“Tenders have been called and it is anticipated the centre will be open to the public in December 2024.”