By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
IT hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Warneet Motor Yacht in recent years, but the deadline for a possible upgrade has inched closer.
The Casey Council has been back and forth with plans and deadlines since 2013 but nothing has ever stuck- except for the rotting balcony.
In 2014, the club was told they would be waiting until 2018 for funding to refurbish the clubrooms and community facilities.
Commodore at the club Michael O’Brien said it was all done and dusted in 2014, however the funding was cut on the last day of the planning approval- but added it might have been for the best.
“I didn’t think the original design was a great design for the amenity of the club, and I know that there were certain people on the council who weren’t happy with it either,” Mr O’Brien said.
The council spent around $6500 on the original design that saw plans for a cafe looking out at the adjacent park instead of facing the water.
The council’s latest budget outlines indicate that the club will receive $50,000 for capital works to complete detailed design documentation for the upgrade.
City of Casey’s Darren Rooth advises that this process will consider architectural plans submitted to the council by the club in 2014, but Mr O’Brien said the club had a new concept which would see the proposed cafe face the water as well as the park.
A further $700,000 to carry out the works has been included for consideration in the council’s 2016-’17 capital works budget which leaves the club rotting a year less than originally expected.
