By Tate Papworth
The cost of Brimbank council’s plans to upgrade and redevelop the St Albans Leisure Centre has ballooned to a staggering $60 million.
The revelation follows last week’s election promise by Labor to fund $5 million towards the project, should it win this month’s federal election.
Just six months ago, the council said the project would cost about $50 million and called on the state and federal governments to contribute $25 million each.
The state government is yet to pledge any money toward the project and in November last year knocked back the council’s application for a $3 million grant as part of the Better Pools program.
Last month, the costs were estimated to have risen to about $58 million, but Brimbank mayor Lucinda Congreve told
Star Weekly last week the costs were now estimated to be more than $60 million.
“Last year, council set out with an ambitious plan to advocate for funding by the state and federal governments into this project, which is expected to cost more than $60 million in total,” she said.
“We believe this project would benefit greatly from having all levels of government involved.”
Cr Congreve said the council will continue to work closely with the state government to secure its support and was committed to continuing its efforts at state and federal levels.
“We’re very happy with the funding commitment made this week by the federal Labor opposition to contribute $5 million towards the replacement of the St Albans Leisure Centre with a health and wellbeing hub,” she said.
However former mayor John Hedditch said on Star Weekly’s facebook page: “The ALP’s $5M commitment is a small first step but I wish it was a $15M commitment like the good citizens of Surf Coast Shire have been promised by the ALP candidate for a new Torquay Pool with another $10M from Dan Andrews on top.
“In needy Brimbank the $58M St Albans Leisure Centre Redevelopment now has a proposed $5M Federal ALP commitment and nothing from the Dan Andrews Government yet.
“Don’t know about anyone else but I’m feeling like a less valued second class citizen compared to those in Torquay.”
Brimbank council has previously said it would fund $25 million of the project.
Last month The Age revealed that the council could seek gaming industry funding to help build the centre.
