MEMBER for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is teed off at what he calls a false election promise to the Kerang Golf Club by the Victorian Government.
In a joint media release between Labor’s candidate for the safe Nationals seat of Murray Plains, Damien Hurrell, and Community Sport Minister Ros Spence on November 15, the pair said it would fund $185,000 in upgrades to the club.
“We’ll provide a $185,000 grant to the Kerang Golf Club to help fund upgrades and make it an even better place for local golfers to enjoy the game,” the statement said.
“Local sport is the lifeblood of Kerang, helping to bring communities and families together.
“That’s why the Labor Government is backing our sports clubs, families and communities by delivering better sports grounds and facilities.”
Four months later, Mr Walsh said there was “no sign of the minister delivering on her offer”.
“Yet here we are, almost four months down the track, and there’s no sign of the money, no sign of the minister delivering on her offer, no sign of anything,” Mr Walsh said.
“This is no longer Mr Hurrell’s problem, he didn’t win the seat.
“But the Labor Government was re-elected and, as you would expect, yet another promise has so far failed to materialise.”
Ms Spence’s office said the funding would be deposited the club’s account.
“This announcement will be subject to the State Budget in May,” a government spokesperson said.
Mr Walsh raised the issue in parliament earlier this month.
“While the silence drags on, officially the minister has 30 days to answer my question about the location and timeframe of the money,” he said.
“On the back of this promise, the Kerang Golf Club, its committee and its members were not just expecting to see the cash delivered, they knew where this money was going, into replacing the irrigation system with upgraded equipment and looking at some automation – an investment in the future of this vital part of the local community.”
Kerang Golf Club president Peter Jones said the club had been told the funding had been “approved” and “allocation had been made for the golf club”.
“We aren’t sure what the actual machinery of the final confirmation of that is,” he said.
“At the end of the day, if it takes until May to get it … we will be very happy to receive it and a bit of a disappointment if we don’t for some reason.
“If it’s deferred now, surely it will be around next time provided the same government is going.”
Mr Hurrell was contacted for comment.
