Drouin oval the big budget winner
Open cheque book criticised
The big winner of this year’s budget is set to be users of Drouin Recreation Reserve.
The subject of several desperate pleas to council in recent years, the sub-standard oval surface is set to receive a $4.1 million upgrade.
For the 450 football players of Drouin, council hopes to carry out surface works over summer to be ready for the 2025 season.
However, the project cost, use of borrowings to fund works and inclusion at the expense of Trafalgar’s second oval, are set to create talking points.
The Trafalgar project - which was previously forecast to receive $1.2 million to start works in this year’s budget - has now dropped off council’s long term plans. With no funds allocated up to 2027/28, there is no second oval in sight.
Cr Annemarie McCabe said the Drouin oval upgrade came out of community advocacy.
Put off year after year due to it being a big job, Cr McCabe said the condition of the playing surface and its high use were reasons for the addition.
“Let’s bite the bullet and get it done,” she said. “The community needs to see this happen.”
When facing questions over Trafalgar’s exclusion, she said Trafalgar already had a football oval and its condition was not as poor as Drouin.
However, several councillors criticised the “open cheque book” approach to funding the Drouin project.
Cr Darren Wallace questioned growing costs, stating the Neerim South oval upgrade had cost $1.5 million and Dowton Park resurfacing in Yarragon about $1.1 million.
Cr Wallace said he had “no issue” with Drouin being scheduled but sought clarification on why council was borrowing $1.7 million for an upgrade.
“Our financial plan basically says borrowings are to be used for strategic capital, so when we build new things,” Cr Wallace said.
Cr Michael Leaney agreed, stating borrowed money should be used for new builds.
Cr Leaney said he voted against Drouin oval’s inclusion in the budget when it was forecast to cost $1.2 million.
Now listed as a $4.1 million project, he said “it seems like an open cheque book and I’m greatly concerned”.
Cr Danny Goss said he supported the Trafalgar oval but this didn’t take his support away from Drouin,
“I think there’s a way all those things can be done together,” Cr Goss said.
However, council still needs to secure a $1 million state or federal government grant.
This would be added to the $2.6 million allocated by council of which $1.7 million will be borrowed.
To make up the remainder, council will draw from funds it normally sets aside for various playing surface renewal projects. This potentially puts other sporting field upgrades on hold for the next two years.
Infrastructure assets and recreation manager David Hair said preliminary design work had been undertaken.
The project will include upgrading the playing surface area, fencing and drainage.
Mr Hair said the aim was a “sustainably better playing surface”, with works set to be fast tracked to minimise disruption for user groups.
If approved in the budget process, he hoped works would start before Christmas, with new grass down by early January and only a few home games missed. However, dates will heavily depend on conditions and grass growth.
If everything goes to plan, Mr Hair said the football club may only need to play a few away games early next season.
Addressing council at a previous meeting, Drouin Football Club president Chris Soumilas described the reserve as “the worst ground in the (Gippsland) League”.
Although Mr Soumilas highlighted the “desperate need” for a new reserve, the resurfacing works will be a step in the right direction to cater for the town’s 450 footy players who share two ovals and, during winter, are forced to train on netball courts.
Strategy and organisational performance director Cohen Van der Velde said plans to build new ovals in Drouin had halted for two reasons - required land acquisition and linked service needs.