WODONGA Council will not seek federal government funding for Baranduda Fields, leaving the proposed sporting ground in limbo.
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Mayor Anna Speedie announced this morning that the council would not submit an application for funding to the government’s Building Better Regions Fund.
Only last week the council’s chief executive Patience Harrington told a council meeting that a bid for cash would be put into the latest round of the Building Better Regions funding which is due to close tomorrow.
In her prepared statement this morning, Cr Speedie did not state why it was decided to backtrack on the application.
“The project is still a council priority and the council is committed to completing the detailed designs,” Cr Speedie said.
She said the move meant the council would forego Victorian government money already received.
“Without the federal and state funding, we cannot complete the oval development and therefore cannot accept the $650,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria,” Cr Speedie said.
“We want to thank Sport and Recreation Victoria for their ongoing support, not only for Baranduda Fields but for recreation projects across the city, with key facilities recently receiving funding for new infrastructure including $100,000 for change rooms at Willow Park and $73,000 for Baranduda Reserve for replacement of the cricket nets.
“We also want to say thank you for all the support and feedback from our sporting groups at a local, state and national level that have been involved and the information gathered throughout development stands us in good stead for when the time is right for this project.