A PRE-election promise is looming as the last avenue for Albury Council to secure major state funding for the $10.5 million art gallery project.

The NSW election will be held in March next year and the state government hasn’t matched the commitments made by Albury ratepayers and the federal government to date.

The council contribution has almost doubled from $3.5 million to nearly $7 million.

The federal Labor government started the project with an initial $3.5 million.

Last week the council saved $417,455 on a $2.6 million upgrade of Wagga Road when the NSW government announced it as one of 32 successful projects in the state for the 3 per cent interest subsidy.

Mayor Kevin Mack said the council was grateful for the state’s help with Wagga Road, but doubted the art gallery would receive any state government backing, unless it came in the lead-up to the March election.

“On the basis of need, Wagga Road was certainly a higher priority,” he said.

“But on face value you would have to say our only hope for some serious money from the NSW government for the art gallery would be before the election.

“We’ve tried everything else.”

Member for Albury Greg Aplin also announced last week his government, through Arts NSW, would provide $23,500 to the council for a gallery-related project.

The government will also contribute $60,000 towards exhibition lighting within the new gallery due to be completed in the middle of next year.

Albury’s Library Museum ($45,000) and a Tumbarumba Memorial Hall stage refurbishment ($12,500) will also share in the $1.3 million funding package.

The council is also hoping $1.05 million can be raised from philanthropic sources for the art gallery.

It decided earlier this year to put other major projects, the Lavington Oval and Albury Emergency Management Centre upgrades, on the backburner to push ahead on the art gallery when the anticipated state government funding wasn’t forthcoming.