Donnybrook-Balingup Council commits to $3.5 million contribution to contentious VC Mitchell Park project

The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup will move ahead with its $3.5 million contribution to the highly contentious redevelopment of the VC Mitchell Park Sporting Precinct. Council voted on Wednesday night to endorse the spend — $3m of which will come from a WA Treasury loan, while $500,000 will come from Shire reserves. The project, which Shire president Leanne Wringe has described as “long overdue”, has been subject to major cutbacks, with rising building costs to blame for the scrapping of some aspects of the project, including new outdoor netball and basketball courts and a new carpark. As part of the motion, which was passed six votes to two at last week’s ordinary council meeting, a public tender will be released for the project, while the Shire will continue to seek funding opportunities from Lotterywest, the Donnybrook Football Club — its major tenant — and football entities including the WAFL and the AFL. Ms Wringe said the tender applicants will be invited to put forward a “variety of design scenarios” and final decisions on “the scope of the project” would be made once that information had been presented. “Across the State, costs have been rising dramatically, and our Shire is not immune to its effects,” she said. “As the budget and building contract is yet to be set — we haven’t even announced a tender — we are in a great position to rescope the initial plan and build within the Shire’s means. “No doubt, cutbacks to the project will need to be made, as construction and materials costs escalate rapidly for all projects across the State.” Donnybrook-Balingup Residents and Ratepayers Association president Brad Fowler, who has led opposition to the project, said the decision was “reckless and irresponsible”. “They are not listening to the ratepayers from the previous election.” A report released by the Shire last week, completed by independent consultant Anna Dixon revealed “major concerns” from some sporting groups and that “a governing committee will be hard to establish” without commitment from all, or at least most, of the relevant sporting clubs. Ms Wringe admitted getting all clubs on board had been a difficult process. “Unfortunately, with so many stakeholders involved in this multi-user precinct project, getting consensus across all groups on exactly what should be built is a tall order,” she said. Work has also just begun on a new hockey pitch at the precinct, to be constructed next to the tennis club. The new facility is expected to be completed by the end of April.