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Community facilities Sport and Recreation | September 20, 2017

Kealy – Labor leaves Kaniva High and Dry

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy MP says Labor has left Kaniva high and dry with a $351,000 funding shortfall for the Kaniva Community Hub.

“Labor’s $351,000 funding shortfall is now the responsibility of the Kaniva-Leeor United Football Club and members are extremely concerned that this debt may cause the club to fold,” Ms Kealy said.

“The Kaniva Community Hub was meant to be a project to help a drought ravaged community, however Labor has left the club and the community financially worse off,” she said.

Ms Kealy raised the club’s concerns in Parliament after recently touring the new facility with members.

“These representatives and other members of the local community have worked extremely hard to make this fabulous facility a reality and they are justifiably proud of what they have achieved”, Ms Kealy said.

“At the same time they are deeply concerned at a $351,000 debt which the club has now inherited due to a significant shortfall in government drought relief funding received for the project,” she said.

The Kaniva-Leeor United Football Club, as the main user of the hub, are liable for any excesses on the project.

“The football club, netball club, hockey club, racecourse reserve, A&P Society and community fund raising efforts have now raised in excess of $280,000 towards the cost of this project – a truly amazing effort”, Ms Kealy said.

“Community members have also contributed thousands of hours of in-kind support to help make the hub a reality and they are to be commended for their commitment and tireless contribution to the project.

“The state drought response funding provided was less than half the total cost of the project and was simply not enough to support such a significant building project in a community ravaged by drought for several consecutive years.

“I have requested the Minister for Regional Development immediately provide further drought relief funding for the Kaniva Community Hub to clear the debt now passed to the Kaniva-Leeor United Football Club and save this important community organisation from financial ruin”, she said.