By Jim Mynard
CASEY council chief executive Mike Tyler has hit back at a claim by Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan that the council had been mischievous.
Mr Donnellan last week said Casey council was being mischievous by claiming the Minister for Sport and Recreation Justin Madden had promised two Community Facilities Funding Program (CFFP) grants in one year.
He was responding to Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland who claimed the minister had promised a $500,000 grant to help develop a sports complex at Narre Warren North.
Mr Donnellan said the council was aware of the rule that it could receive only one grant a year under the program.
“Casey will have to make a further application for the Narre Warren North project but it must come as a priority for that year,” he said.
Mr Tyler said the claim that the council was being mischievous or misleading in its comments about the rejection of the funding application for the sports complex was unfounded.
He said also that the government had relied on an inequitable policy which treated all municipalities the same regardless of population or growth levels.
Mr Tyler confirmed that the council’s comments contained in a media release issued late in 2005 clearly indicated that funding assistance had been sought for two projects.
He said that they both met the funding program guidelines except that the guidelines only allowed one application in any year in the major facilities category of the CFFP.
“What is disappointing is that, although State Government representatives are pointing to only one application being allowed in any one year, they are ignoring the fact that when the council applied for funding for the Cranbourne pool for 2005/06 that application was rejected and no other major facility was approved in the City of Casey.
“After representations to the minister pointing out the great need for the Cranbourne Aquatic and Recreation Centre, the council was encouraged to resubmit the project which it did successfully for 2006/07.
“It is extremely unfortunate that the State Government rejected the Cranbourne pool application for 2005/06.”
He said this not only delayed its commencement, but in subsequently approving it in 2006/07, used that approval as a pretext for rejecting another project, the Narre Warren North sports complex, which it had previously committed to.
“Had the State Government approved the Cranbourne pool application as it should have for 2005/06, then the Narre Warren North sports complex would have been the only City of Casey application in the Major Facilities category for 2006/07.
“Not only has the State Government delayed funding assistance to necessary projects in Casey, it has also relied on a inequitable policy which treats all municipalities the same regardless of population or growth levels.
“With the largest population and fastest growth of any municipality in Victoria, the City of Casey has the greatest need for new infrastructure and the guidelines should recognise this,” Mr Tyler said.