Support for cultural precinct

Baw Baw Shire says the three already endorsed candidates for the Federal seat of Monash in the election next month have all backed Baw Baw Shire’s request for funding towards a $30 million cultural and connection precinct in Civic Park at Warragul.

In a written statement mayor Michael Leaney said he’d been given assurances by the candidates that, if elected, they would back council’s lobbying for $10 million in Federal funding towards the project.

However, immediate past mayor Danny Goss says statements of support were “disingenuous,” mean little, and were a long way from achieving anything practical.

Cr Leaney said the support for the proposed development was given him during meetings with sitting Liberal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent, the Australian Labor Party candidate Jessica O’Donnell and Voices for Monash’s Deb Leonard.

Council has pledged $10 million towards the project and is seeking the same amount from each of the Federal and State governments.

The state government has so far offered $3.5 million.

Cr Goss said Mr Broadbent had previously declined council requests to arrange meetings with key decision makers in Canberra - the relevant ministers and senior bureaucrats that decide where money is spent.

“And the other two candidates to date endorsed for the upcoming Federal election aren’t in a position to do anything”.

Even if a Labor won government and Ms O’Donnell was elected in Monash she would be able to do little as a new backbencher to get the $10 million Federal money council wants, Cr Goss claimed.

The council envisages the proposed civic complex will include a multi-level library, learning facility and community meeting rooms, arts and cultural space, cafe, rooftop terrace, parents’ room and facility for people with disabilities, underground car parking and plaza and pedestrian connection to the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

A $1.1 million contract was awarded by Baw

Baw council last month to design the development.

Cr Leaney described it as “the largest single undertaking in council’s history” and high on its list of priorities.

He said statements of support from Monash candidates on all sides of the political spectrum was wide acknowledgement of the need for such a facility.

Their support gave council the confidence to proceed towards the project’s next major milestone, the appointment of a Project Reference Group.

Expressions of interest will be called from community members to nominate for the reference group that will also include other key stakeholders.

Cr Leaney said the group would help inform the final design of the complex to ensure it would meet the specific needs of the community and user groups.