EUROBODALLA Shire Council has allocated a further $100,000 for consultants to investigate a proposed Batemans Bay Aquatic Centre, bringing the project’s total to $200,000 over the past two financial years.
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The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner understands detailed plans for a $44 million indoor sports precinct at Hanging Rock, including an indoor pool, were endorsed by the community and council in 2013, however it is under review.
The council engaged a consultant in the 2014-15 financial year at a cost of $100,000.
A council spokeswoman said this week the consultant was finalising “preliminary investigations” into the centre, but could not provide more detail on what these involved.
She said that in council’s draft 2015-16 budget a further $100,000 had been allocated to the project, subject to council approval.
“This will allow council to progress the project to the next stage which will include the development of business plans for the project,” she said.
“The investigation work will continue into next financial year utilising both the funds allocated in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Once council has completed the preliminary investigation work, a stakeholder engagement process will be undertaken during 2015-16.”
The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner asked what the consultant’s preliminary investigations specifically involved, whether the council had yet applied for state or federal funds and when the life of the current Batemans Bay pool was expected to end, however the questions went unanswered.
The draft 2015-16 budget, which has not yet been approved, lists $100,000 of loan funds will be used for “Batemans Bay pool architectural fees”.
A further $15,000 infrastructure funding is allocated to refurbishment of the pool’s clubhouse, while $75,000 of funding from the council’s SRV has been allocated for “Batemans Bay Pool renewal”.
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