On Thusday I briefed Councillors and the CEO on the discussions that Cr. Forgan and I had with three supporters of a proposition to construct a waterpark within the region.
Yesterday I submitted the following Notice of Motion which will be placed on Council’s agenda for its meeting on 21st February. A short background has been provided which supports the funding of a Scoping Study into the concept of a combined Aquatic Centre/Waterpark facility. The background also articulates that significant State or Federal funding would be required to bring such a facility to fruition.
Notice of Motion – Regional Aquatic Centre/Waterpark
“That Council resolve to allocate funding for a Scoping Study into the feasibility of establishing a Regional Aquatic Centre and Waterpark in the 2012/13 Budget”.
Background
Prior to amalgamation the former Bundaberg City Council had progressed concept designs and costings for the establishment of an Aquatic Centre within the city environs. Such a facility is consistent with the objectives of Council’s current Sport & Recreation Strategy.
Following the 2008 amalgamations and the State Government’s failure to fund the merger together with its withdrawal of the 40% water & sewerage subsidy, the new Council considered it appropriate to refrain from borrowing funds for social infrastructure until such time as its financial position had stabilised and projects such as the Aquatic Centre could be revisited.
In recent times there have been numerous requests from the community for the construction of a Waterpark within the region. In light of the research already undertaken by the former City Council and the synergies associated with both a generic Aquatic Centre and a Waterpark it is considered prudent to consider the option of a joint facility, thereby cost-sharing any capital and operational expenses.
It is unlikely that Council will be in a position to fully fund such a facility in the immediate future and that significant federal or state government funding would need to be sourced to bring such a project to fruition. A scoping study would provide options of possible locations, design features and indicative costings which would then be available to form the basis for an application, if and when, a suitable grant opportunity becomes available.