A northern councillor has hit out at his council, saying the number of master plans its developing is giving the community a “false hope”.
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At Monday’s Northern Midlands Council meeting, four masterplans and an urban design strategy for Longford were put before the council.
Plans for the Cressy and Ross swimming pools and Morven Park and Cressy recreation grounds were all endorsed at the meeting, as well as the Longford plan.
The plans are expected to cost about $10 million.
Councillor Ian Goninon said having so many plans that the council is unable to act upon gave those involved a false hope.
“The reality is that council cannot afford this, we’re going over board,” he said.
“At this rate we’ll be saying we need to increase rates just to support these facilities.”
But many councillors disagreed. Councillor Mary Knowles said the masterplans were a way to show the community that the council cares about the clubs.
“We need to be showing active support to these clubs. I think they realise its a long-term thing,” she said.
“They realise that us listening is a priority for them.”
Councillors agreed the point of having masterplans was so when funding for projects become available, they’re ready to act.
“We need to have these projects ready for when the funding becomes available,” Cr Knowles said.
Councillor Michael Poley said it would have been to good to have the Morevan Park Masterplan about eight years ago when the club rooms were updated.
“The facilities are now inadequate in a very short amount of time. The ground now needs facilities for women footballers,” he said.
“The principle of having a masterplan is a good one. As long as people aren’t lead along the path of thinking it’s an immediate thing.”
Councillor Richard Goss said the female league at the Evandale club would be bigger than the men’s league in 2018.
“What we’re doing here is giving evidence to other people that we’re listening,” he said.
“I really endorse these masterplans.”
The two pools require “significant upgrades”, the council’s general manager Des Jennings said. Proposed works are required to the kiosk at Cressy and pool fencing at Ross. Cr Goss said Cressy’s pool hadn’t been upgraded since it opened 55 years ago.
Councillor Janet Lambert said the Morven Park development would be “state of the art” for the town.
Cr Poley said the Cressy Recreation Ground masterplan was “perfect” except for the changed location of the dump point.
All councillors endorsed the Longford strategy.