No million on way for pavilion

KATINA CURTIS

KIAMA MP Matt Brown has denied he promised the State Government would give a $1 million grant for the showground pavilion upgrade.

Kiama Council has told the Kiama Independent on a number of occasions it was under the impression Mr Brown had said he would lobby the NSW Government for a $2.5 million low rate loan as well as a $1 million grant to help fund the project, although there is no documentation to back this up.

Mayor Sandra McCarthy said she thought it was very clear at last week's council meeting that councillors felt there had been an understanding through commitments made to the Show Society about the grant.

The council has also applied for a second $1 million grant through the Federal Government, which Gilmore MP Joanna Gash said she believed would be forthcoming.

Minister for lands Tony Kelly wrote to the council earlier this month to inform it the NSW Government had given a low rate loan, spit into two parts.

His letter said: "Provision of the loans is subject to the council undertaking to meet the balance of funds required to complete the project.

"I understand that the council is also seeking funding from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development and the Federal Government through the Regional Assistance Program for this project.

"Provision of this funding is also subject to the council providing a copy of each funding approval to the reserves officer."

Mr Brown said this week that during the election campaign he went to great pains not to create any false expectations and went to regular meetings with the council to tell them that the $1 million funding was unlikely.

"We went to the election without reckless promises," he said. "No council that I'm aware of is getting a $1 million hand-out for pavilions.

"What the Government is doing is providing low interest loans above and beyond the money that the councils want. The Showground Pavilion is a council project " it's run by them.

"I understand they could build the pavilion with the $2.5 million we are lending them. And I hope they do."

There was no provision in last week's State Budget for a grant for the pavilion, although the Government expects to have a surplus of $376 million.

Cr McCarthy said she was disappointed the Government had seen fit to fund upgrades to the Berry Sport and Recreation Centre in its budget, but not the Kiama pavilion.

"That's a Government facility, but I feel also with the Showground Pavilion that's on Crown land," she said.

"I feel that our need is just as important as Berry's."