Glenorchy City Council Acting Mayor and mayoral candidate, Bec Thomas has stated her commitment to prioritising upgrades at KGV and North Chigwell, saying procurements for the design and construction of new changerooms and grandstand at KGV had been issued this week.
“As Acting Mayor I have strongly advocated for moving things along with the Northern Suburbs Football Facilities development projects, which are of great importance to our Glenorchy community and the broader football community,” Ms Thomas said.
“I am pleased to confirm we received the final funding agreement for signing this week and the project team have now hit ‘play on’, issuing the procurements for both the design and construction of the new changerooms and grandstand at KGV and for temporary change rooms.
“We are also about to issue the request for tender for the first stage of the North Chigwell project, which is to evaluate options for the design and management of the facility to ensure the football hub is fit for purpose and sustainable into the long-term future.
“Glenorchy City Council has always been committed to prioritising the Northern Suburbs Football Facilities development projects, to be achieved through a funding allocation of $14.3million.
“This is made up of $12.8million from the Australian Government’s 2018 election commitment, an additional $1million from the Australian Government’s Community Development Grant Program and $500,000 from the Tasmanian Government’s Levelling the Playing Field Grant program.
“Since the funds were promised, we have been working closely with all stakeholders to combine and leverage funding sources to get the best possible outcome for the football community and ratepayers and residents of Glenorchy.
“These projects represent significant investments, with $8.96million allocated to the North Chigwell Hub and $4.84million to the KGV upgrades, so it’s important we get them right and make sure the facilities are sustainable into the future.
“Over the last 12 months Council has employed a project manager, commissioned the KGV Football Facility Master Plan and prepared the scope and tender for the first stage of the North Chigwell Hub.
“Council was not in a position to proceed with the next steps until we received the final funding agreement from the Australian Government, as spending money prior to receiving the final agreement would present a significant risk to council and our ratepayers.
“Council has a clear timeline for the differing stages of works and an expected start and completion date will be determined in consultation with FT, the Knights and Metro Football Clubs, now the funding agreement has been received.
“As I have conveyed to FT in our discussions over the past two months, I am totally committed to continuing to working with FT, the Knights and Metro Football Clubs to prioritise and progress these projects, whether I am elected Mayor or continue on as Deputy Mayor.”
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley said the upgrades would offer enormous benefits to the local community, as well as the football community more broadly.
“I’d like to thank Ms Thomas for recognising the importance of both the KGV and North Chigwell projects.
“It’s great to see progress is being made and that we can expect to see action at the sites soon now the funding agreement has been received.
“Football participation is bursting at the seams in the state and upgrades at both KGV and North Chigwell will help even more Tasmanians enjoy the World Game safely and comfortably.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Council to make sure the improved facilities can benefit their local communities as soon as possible, and with minimal disruption to our competitions.”