The Naracoorte Lucindale Council seeks your feedback about whether to spend $8 million on new basketball/netball facilities, or $35 million on a new sports complex.

People can offer their feedback by writing to the council, talking to one of their elected members or voicing their opinion via the council’s website.

The $8 million project, known as Option 1, is a standalone two-court indoor sports stadium containing two multi-sport courts.

Under this option, one of the courts would be a basketball/netball show court with fixed spectator seating.

The new stadium would also feature a community function room, canteen/kitchen, office, changerooms, and storage.

The existing basketball stadium would be retained, which would ensure ongoing availability to users.

A covered linkage would be constructed to join the two stadiums.

This option would result in an increase of two indoor multi-use courts and provide a total of four indoor courts.

A new carpark would need to be constructed along with an overflow carparking area to cater for times of high demand.

The estimated cost of the project in 2018 was $5,192,320.

However, with inflationary cost increases, council has forecast the project to be an estimated $8 million.

The $35 million project known as Option 2 is a new standalone two-storey complex providing four multi-use courts, separate modern changeroom facilities fit for all genders, an umpires room, commercial kitchen and function room.

It would also include four squash courts, a canteen and administration area, a lift, and viewing areas.

Such a development would result in the removal of the existing football, netball and tennis clubrooms.

Council believes the construction cost for this project would be $35.513 million, which includes carparking and landscaping costs.

Neither option includes any scope for a heated pool.

CEO Trevor Smart told The [Naracoorte Community] News that over time the council had considered the inclusion of a heated pool, both within the new sports complex, and as a standalone facility. But the costs were prohibitive.

“Council will be further exploring its options for aquatic facilities as part of the Naracoorte Swimming Lake precinct,” Mr Smart said.

Whether or not all sporting groups and clubs were in favour of a new sporting complex, Mr Smart said they were all “significantly consulted and engaged on their preferred options”.

Additionally, he said the current consultation provides the community, clubs and groups the opportunity to express their views “and if some are not in favour, hopefully the reasons why will also be expressed”.

Reflecting on the primary reason behind a new sports complex, Mr Smart said in 2018, the council met with representatives from the Naracoorte Football and Netball Clubs and the Naracoorte District Basketball Association.

“The respective clubs were fortunate enough to gain funding from the then Office for Sport and Recreation for preliminary design work for a future indoor sports stadium,” Mr Smart said.

“With assistance from Brett Julian Architecture, the netball club and basketball association proposed to construct a standalone two-court stadium with amenities, spectator seating, kitchen and storage rooms.

“The cost estimate for this in 2018 was $5.2M. Upon receipt of this presentation, the council in 2019 endorsed the development of a masterplan for the whole sports centre, which aimed to capture all stakeholders within the sports centre lease area.

“Tredwell Consultants undertook the project to deliver the masterplan for the proposed Regional Sports Centre.”

Mr Smart said the masterplan’s objective was to bring together the needs and desires of each stakeholder group, and where possible look at centralising infrastructure.

“The masterplan was endorsed by the Sports Centre Committee and council in 2019, identifying the need for future planning at the complex while also recognising the value in shared facilities.”

Time flicked by and a new council was elected in November last year.

During an “in confidence” meeting it was briefed on February 14 this year.

As a result of that meeting, Mr Smart said the council decided to revisit the proposal by investigating three options.

• A regional sports complex design and costings with no aquatic facilities;
• Assess what infrastructure needs were required for individual clubs;
• Investigate the opportunity to have a stand-alone swimming facility co-located at the Naracoorte Swimming Lake.

Another “in confidence” meeting was held on July 18 regarding the proposed sporting complex to review the three options.

“In discussions during the session, concerns were raised on the financial viability and sustainability of the project – with or without the aquatics facility – and the consequences financially that a project of this value would have on council and the long-term financial plan (LTFP),” Mr Smart said.

“As a result, the council undertook financial and rate modelling against council’s LTFP.

“It was suggested that the financial modelling be based on two options – an $8M project, and a $35M project.

“These costings were based on the assumption that external funding would be provided by the State and Federal Governments.”

The council had held several “in confidence” meetings to discuss the costs before recently announcing its public consultation for the two options.

The options are located on part of the 17.5 ha sports centre site which is part of the 57.9 ha North Parklands. Owned by The Crown, it is under the management, care and control of the council.

The land is leased until 2034 from the council by the Naracoorte and Districts Sports Centre Committee, an incorporated body chaired by Neville Vickery which held its AGM in August.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.