At Tuesday's meeting of Campaspe Shire Council, Council agreed to proceed with a $250,000 grant application through Sport and Recreation Victoria's Country Football Netball Program for the Rochester Recreation Reserve Moon Oval lighting upgrade project.
Mayor Rob Amos said that Council was unable to support an additional application for the federal government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program funding, because if unsuccessful, the resolution would have required Council to fund the remaining $458,000 of the Moon Oval lighting upgrade project which is on land not owned by Council.
"Historically Council has not funded projects located on Crown Land and managed by a Committee of Management direct to the Crown.
"We need to develop a framework to guide Council decision making regarding the contribution to capital infrastructure on Crown Land.
"Council has identified the Moon Oval lighting upgrade as a priority project for the Rochester district, but to ensure fairness across the shire, we need to develop an official position on contributing to Crown Land assets.
"We commenced discussions regarding Crown Land capital projects across the Shire in late 2022, and a workshop has been organised with Officers and Councillors to expedite the progression of this overarching strategic piece of work.
"We acknowledge the lighting upgrade is a worthwhile project and will support it with a staged funding approach. In the interim, Officers will continue to actively seek out any other available funding opportunities that will assist to accelerate completion for the Rochester community," Cr Amos said.
