Council dips into pool funds

Alison Noonan
VITAL funds for the new Cranbourne Pool have been drained out to float other projects in the City of Casey.
Casey Council originally proposed to allocate $2 million of surplus funds from the 200405 budget to build the $21m Cranbourne Aquatic Centre at a council meeting earlier this month.
However, Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford claimed “a lastminute feeding frenzy by certain councillors wanting to get last minute projects in for reelection” saw $1m plucked from the pool just a week later.
He said the new beneficiaries included the Endeavour Hills Landscape Master Plans Implementation, Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre lighting, Casey Central Town Park, traffic lights at the junction of Clyde and Grice roads, development of petanque facilities in Doveton and a trial bus service from Cranbourne to Pearcedale.
“I am not happy with this decision,” Cr Bradford said.
“To take $1m out of a massive project is bad economics. It was whittled away by some councillors.
“Some money could have come out of it but not $1m.”
Cr Bradford said the council had so far allocated just $2m to the project, even after news that its application for a $2.5 million State Government grant had been rejected earlier in the year.
He said the refusal for funding had held construction back by 12 months, pushing the scheduled date for completion to 2008.
“We are going to resubmit funding for the pool and my understanding is that we will be successful,” Cr Bradford said.
“We can’t do things any faster unless we act irresponsibly in our finances but we are a responsible council.
“The project has been brought forward from the original construction date of 2010 from when I first started in council so we are getting there,” he said.
However, Cranbourne and District Residents Association president David Banner said he was not at all surprised by “yet another delay”.
“The Cranbourne Pool has already sprung a leak. It seems to be draining out quicker than it’s filling up,” Mr Banner said.
“They (the council) seem to be saying the same old thing. They make a promise, break it and then come back next year,” he said.
Cranbourne resident and aquatic centre campaigner Joanne Blanch said the neverending pool saga was becoming ridiculous.
“This really shows council’s commitment to the pool,” Ms Blanch said.
“The south misses out again and the whole thing will keep dragging on and on.
“They (the council) are just trying to pull the wool over our eyes again. Something’s got to give,” she said.