Council
17 June, 2025
City Oval project voted down by council
The Horsham Rural City Council have voted against signing the City Oval Funding Agreement at an unscheduled and confidential council meeting on Monday, June 16.
The Horsham Rural City Council have voted against signing the City Oval Funding Agreement at an unscheduled and confidential council meeting on Monday, June 16.
The matter was listed on the May council meeting agenda but was deferred to allow councillors time to obtain additional information.
Mayor Ian Ross said on Tuesday morning that the decision had been a difficult one.
"We asked ourselves if the almost $10 million cost could better serve the wider community at this time," he said.
"The Federal Government Grant of $4.6 million had to be matched by the HRCC, and with what is currently a tight council budget, we decided we could upgrade the current facility for a fraction of the cost, including female facilities, and a lift to make it all accessible."
However, a comparison of a new build against an upgrade of the existing facility had not been included in the business model.
"We will go back to the drawing board and start that process afresh, " he said.
Horsham Football and Netball Club president Tim Wade said the club was comfortable with the council's decision.
"We have a drought, people are doing it tough, and I think it wasn't the right time for the council to borrow or spend that amount of money," he said, referring to the almost half a million dollars council would have had to contribute.
"It would have been great to have the new fantastic facility, but in the current financial climate, I think it was the right decision for this time."
Mr Wade said the club had already put together some preliminary ideas and plans and believes the refurbishment will provide the all-access facility and female change rooms needed.
"It's not the end of the road," he said.
"We can continue to plan ahead for another facility as time and funds allow."
The mayor said councillors took into account the ongoing costs of maintaining a new facility and the potential for overruns with a new build.
The hour-long discussion on the matter also included the projected income from stage hire.
With only one festival, RegFest in 2024, to base it on, the majority of councillors were not confident that it would significantly offset the cost of the build.
"Council would have had to borrow against its cash flow to match the Federal Funding on a dollar-to-dollar basis," Cr Ross said.
"So the additional uncertainty and opposition around the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund was another consideration for council.
"If ratepayers refuse to pay the levy, the council would still have to pay the State Government, which would create a two-million-dollar liability, and we can't take that risk."
The council's funding application, made before the 2024 council election, successfully raised $4.8 million for the project.
The application included accessible amenities, catering and conferencing facilities, office and meeting space, as well as multi-sport change rooms, including separate change rooms for umpires, first aid and medical room, storage, gym and public toilets, a covered concourse and verandah, new entry points with food kiosk, ticket boxes and landscaping.
The mayor emphasised that the community needed to understand that the council had received no federal money for the project; the meeting was to decide whether the council would sign the funding agreement.
Cr Cam McDonald said the decision was the right one for the community.
He said the refurbishment of the existing facility could include two additional wings, one on each end of the building, to increase the space needed to include female facilities and a lift, among other upgrades.
"The Horsham Football and Netball Clubs have already provided plans and quotes for ideas they have for the refurbishment, and with that in mind, we are certain we can provide our sporting community with a great facility without negatively impacting other projects," he said.
"We understand there may be some short-term repercussions when we apply for government funding again, but other councils have made similar decisions and worked through them.
"I think the Federal Government would rather a council be prudent than otherwise."
However, former mayor Pam Clarke said the council's decision was disappointing, and she feared for the future of government funding.
"Once you knock back funding, it can affect future funding applications," she said.
"My concerns are also about the cost of a refurbishment and how much that will cost."
Ms Clarke served on several major project planning committees, including the Horsham Aquatic Center, the Town Hall, and the Horsham Uniting Building.
"These all had opposition from some sections of the community, but they came in on time, under budget, and have proved to be great assets for the community as this one would have been," she said.
Community Reference Group member Neville McIntyre said the council's decision was the right one.
"We can go back to the drawing board and design and build something the community wants," he said.
"During early discussions, one builder said the expense and maintenance of a lift could be offset by having a ramp rather than steps, which would make the building an all-access facility."
Cr Ross said that while councillors understood there might be disappointment amongst some members of the community, the current council was moving in a different trajectory from the past two councils.
Its focus was on benefits for the wider community.
Cr Ross said Horsham had several fine convention centres, including the Town Hall, and a new hotel was planned near the Golf Club.
The vote at Monday's meeting was 5:2, with Crs Ross, Sluggett, McDonald, Munn and Klowss against.
Crs O'Loughlin and Wilson voted in favour.