Backlash doesn’t delay Wilf Cox Pavilion redevelopment

The original plan centred on a $1 million Victorian Government grant aimed at promoting equity and inclusion by creating change rooms for female players and umpires, facilities currently absent at the reserve.

The plan also proposed accessibility changes.

Council then committed a further $2.2 million, conditional on having the $1 million state grant.

However, the group believed there was more to be done than what was being proposed, asking council to defer any verdict until a decision to develop an alternative proposal was completed.

The recommendation discussed at the council meeting asked councillors to approve the tender for the redevelopment, and commit to officers exploring a “stage two” of the project, including changes to the existing kitchen, access and other items for future budget consideration.

Kyabram footballer and cricketer Tim Nelson spoke at Tuesday’s meeting on behalf of the “Kyabram community”, protesting against the approval of the plan for better facilities, as he believed it wouldn’t cater to the “growing need of the community”.

“I am here as an extremely concerned citizen, as are a number of people from Kyabram who are here tonight and are as concerned as myself,” he said.

“After seeing the plans that are in place for the development, it has become obvious that the tendered and proposed scope of work, that community priorities and certainly cost-effectiveness seems to have taken a back seat.

“Council has totally failed our user groups by forcing a project on them which will destroy the excellent functionality of the existing complex.”

Mr Nelson outlined concerns the group found with the original plan, which included: loss of floor space, gymnasium space, cool room and storage, space in change rooms, loss of a social space for cricket and football clubs, loss of ramp access for the function room and poor accessibility.

“Over and over, we are told to promote better living and sport participation, here we are reducing amenities that are currently overloaded,” he said.

Questions were then posed to Mr Nelson by Cr Adrian Weston and Cr John Zobec surrounding the realities of being able to complete the project on a delayed schedule.

If the development is not completed by August 2026, the $1 million grant funds would need to be withdrawn, and in turn, the $2.2 million of council funds would also be withdrawn.

Mr Nelson said he believed the community was “passionate” and the upgrades could be done in “fast-forward” to adhere to the limitations of the grant.

Cr Zoe Cook asked Mr Nelson about how much existing space currently existed for female change rooms, to which he replied there was “zero” space.

In a reply to Cr Weston asking if it would rather proceed with the plan as it currently is, or not have any upgrades at all, Mr Nelson said the group would rather “not have it at all”.

The discussion then turned to the councillors themselves, with the motion to approve the plans moved by Cr Rob Amos and seconded by Cr Tony Marwood.

Speaking for the motion, Cr Amos spoke about how the upgrades had been a long-standing project for council, and while not a perfect representation of what the community wanted, he said that was why provisions for consultation in stage two had been put into the motion.

He also believed moving the project forward would cause less disruption to user groups of the Wilf Cox Reserve and not risk losing the state grant.

Similarly, Cr Marwood spoke about the reputational damage that council might risk if it delayed this project and risked having to send back the $1 million in grant money to the government.

The dire need for female and umpire change rooms was the main focus for Cr Cook, who emphasised the impact not going forward with the plans would have on women’s sport in the Kyabram area.

“Women have every right to play sport, and to be treated equally in sport,” she said.

“If there are no current female facilities, then all we are gaining is floor space for women to have the vital facilities they need to play the best that they can play.”

Speaking against the motion were Cr Jessica Mitchell, Cr Weston and Cr Zobec, who had to request extra time to speak after reaching his allocated limit.

Cr Mitchell highlighted how the “work isn’t done” on these plans, and how it was still lacking, and that she would like to see the dates for the project’s start moved.

Cr Weston had concerns about the functionality of the proposed plans, including for the proposed elevator in emergencies — and foreshadowed a second motion if the first motion wasn’t approved.

Cr Zobec compared the Wilf Cox Pavilion to Echuca’s Victoria Park redevelopment.

“The fact that that project (Vic Park upgrades) came into us as councillors on multiple occasions, we saw the scoping, we saw the project, we knew where it was heading, we saw the plans,” he said.

“With the Wilf Cox Pavilion ... we got an A4 plan (and) there was nothing brought into council, there was no discussion whether the project is what the community wanted, we haven’t even seen it — there was no discussion in the chamber — this is where I am very disappointed.”

The motion — now with an amendment made by Cr Mitchell to emphasise that council would consult community groups during stage two of the project — was put to a vote.

Crs Amos, Marwood, Cook and Daniel Mackrell voted for the motion, while Crs Zobec, Weston and Mitchell voted against the motion.

Cr Luke Sharrock abstained from voting, citing he was “yes and no” about the motion.

According to governance rules, abstaining from a vote automatically makes the vote against.

With Cr Paul Jarman absent, this created a tied vote of 4-4.

In accordance with governance laws, the mayor, Cr Mackrell, had the tie-breaking vote, which he used to pass the recommendation.