Call to expose funding mix-up

By Rebecca Fraser
A LOCAL MP has called on Casey council to come clean with the public and admit it put building the new Cranbourne Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Cranbourne ahead of the interests of the people of Narre Warren North.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan has also hit back at claims that the State Government reneged on a promise to help fund two new ovals at the planned Belgrave Hallam Road Sporting Complex.
Mr Donnellan made the call after the State Government rejected a $500,000 grant application to help fund the new sporting complex.
He said the application was only rejected because it was not made a priority by Casey council and did not comply with clear State Government guidelines which only allow municipalities to apply for one category of funding per year.
The City of Casey made two applications for funding assistance for the proposed Cranbourne Aquatic and Recreation Centre and for facilities at the proposed Narre Warren North sports complex.
Mr Donnellan said that because the council was only allowed to make one application, Casey was asked in December 2005 by the Department of Sport and Recreation which application it considered to be the most important. It opted for the Cranbourne facility. The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Justin Madden, subsequently approved the application for the pool.
Following the rejection of the sporting complex funding, Casey CEO Mike Tyler said the minister had previously committed to some funding for the Narre Warren North Sporting Complex.
However, Mr Donnellan said the government guidelines were set out clearly and Casey council could have had the funding if it deemed the Narre Warren North project as its higher priority.
“Why the City of Casey believes it should be treated differently to every other council in Victoria is difficult to explain.
“They (the council) should not be trying to blame the Minister for choices they have made.
“Under the funding program councils are given an opportunity each year to make one large funding request.
“This applies to all 79 councils in Victoria and has been running this way for over five years,” he said.
“Unfortunately, for those families living north of the highway, the council decided to make Cranbourne a priority.
“I would hope in the next round the council did not continue to neglect the needs of Narre Warren North,” he said.
As reported in the News last week, Casey councillors Mick Morland and deputy mayor Rob Wilson have assured Narre Warren North sporting clubs that the sporting complex will still be ready by the 2007 sporting season despite the funding wrangle. Mr Tyler also said the council would continue to press ahead with the project.