The Development Application has been approved, the project scope has been endorsed, the revised funding has been ticked off and an announcement for the winning tender is imminent.
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After 30-plus years the community of Medowie is finally set to receive its highly controversial sports and community club. And all going well the doors may be officially open by early 2020.
The long-awaited community facility, first flagged for the area by the late former councillor Ken Muir, will be co-located within Ferodale Park and comes with a $6.3 million price tag – $3.7mil for the building and the remainder to be spent on ancillary external works such as carparking and bowling greens.
Cr Chris Doohan, a former club president, told the November 13 meeting of council that the money would be sourced from long overdue Section 94 payments and government grants.
“Medowie has historically had its S94 constantly redeployed. For example, approximately $15mil of Medowie’s money went into the Lakeside pool rebuild at Raymond Terrace,” he said.
“Medowie has been patient, allowing the rebuilds at both Fingal Bay and Birubi surf clubs. It’s our time.”
What’s more Cr Doohan said that the facility would eventually pay for itself, with a “preliminary business case projecting an operating surplus of $140,000 and a gross margin of 15 per cent”.
He also congratulated the council staff on their foresight in building a facility for tomorrow, catering for the huge growth of the town.
“This club will bring huge benefits to Medowie providing a family friendly restaurant, multimedia room, a fresh place for senior citizens, meals on wheels, the RSL and facilities to use as a disaster recovery site.
“Then there are the multitude of sporting users including netball, AFL, cricket, soccer, touch football, tennis, hash house harriers, Futsal, rugby union, little athletics, mountain bikers, social golfers, lawn bowlers plus bridge, Lions, CWA and Probus groups.”
The multipurpose club overlooking the AFL and soccer grounds will feature lounge area, kitchen, bar, function rooms, storage, amenities, 100 car parking spaces, two bowling greens and a children's play area.
The councillors agreed unanimously to proceed with construction of the Medowie Sports and Community club and adopt the revised funding strategy. The winning tender is expected to be announced by the end of November, with a 12-month construction schedule set to commence late January/early February.
