In a move that could open the floodgates on requests for financial assistance for recycled water infrastructure, Bega Valley Shire Council voted to give $150,000 to the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club at the meeting last week.
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A passionate debate saw a close 5-4 win for those in favour of the payment to help the golf club with the renewal of its irrigation system.
Councillors Russell Fitzpatrick, Mitchell Nadin, Tony Allen and Robyn Bain were all against the proposal from the outset with the mayor Kristy McBain, councillors Sharon Tapscott, Cathy Griff and Liz Seckold in favour while councillor Jo Dodds held the balance of power.
At first hearing Cr Dodds appeared to disagree with giving the money to the club saying that while she saw a huge value in the reutilisation of water, she was not convinced the grant proposed was necessary to achieve that outcome.
After the meeting Cr Dodds said it had been a tough decision but she felt it came down to the equivalent of $5 a person in the shire and believed that voting for the grant was the right way to go.
Essentially the argument was one of philosophy and strategic direction for council. The question for councillors was whether council should contribute to infrastructure on private property that would help it meet its own targets for recycled water given the shire relies heavily on its environmental credentials.
In proposing the motion to vote for giving the money to the club, Cr Kristy McBain said it was about a strategic policy decision with significant economic and policy benefits.
“There’s potential for development over the rest of the golf course to take more effluent. Currently there’s 20 per cent of reuse (at the golf club) but we should aim for 40-50 per cent,” Cr Kristy McBain said.
But Cr Nadin called it a red herring and said: “This is a bad deal; I don’t think we’re getting anything for our $150,000, the club will continue to use this free $400,000 worth of water.
He added that it was a substantial amount of money that would do nothing to improve the environmental impact on council and that it “set a very dangerous precedent”.
Cr Fitzpatrick said that while he was supportive of the golf club the club should be responsible for their irrigation system.
“Our policy is to improve reticulated water but where do we draw the line?” Cr Fitzpatrick asked.
“I am supportive of the golf club but our problem here is a straight policy decision,” he added.
However in her summing up Cr Kristy McBain said that giving the money to the golf club would not cause any increase in sewer bills. She added it was a strategic policy decision, emphasising that the environmental stakes were high and that using the current ocean outfall was neither “appropriate or a good look for council”.
“Environmentally and socially this is a good outcome for us,” Cr Kristy McBain said.
Speaking after the meeting vice president at the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club, Tony Freeman said he was very grateful to council for seeing the big picture.
“There is a lot of community involvement and it is a community resource; it is more than just a golf club.”
But it is likely to have a knock on effect with both Eden and Bermagui golf clubs in need of irrigation system upgrades.
Cr Fitzpatrick has already flagged his intention to put a notice of motion to council asking for a $400,000 pipeline to bring recycled water from Pambula to the Pambula Sporting Complex so that the complex can stop its use of potable water for playing fields.
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