Ball Park’s long-term lessee sought

“The site is Crown Land under council control, so it cannot be sold. It is hoped but not a certainty, that a suitable company can enter into a long-term lease and commit to the capital investment required, and also ensure council’s operating losses cease on this business,” council’s General Manager Adrian Butler said.

Cr David Bott submitted two Questions with Notice for council’s October meeting, the first seeking the current status of the park and what plans for the site’s future are being investigated.

The Ball Park Caravan Park has an approved masterplan (not detailed design) and a Business Development Strategy to allow a redevelopment of the park into a modern tourist park.

Council has not been successful in securing a funding strategy for this, and so the park is operating under a short term (2 x 2 years) management model.

Considering Government grants are not likely in this area anymore, and Federation Council has other financial priorities, council is not in the position to fund the $12 plus million to undertake this work, on a non core business unit according to Mr Butler.

“The site is an example of a run-down facility that provided a lease income for council for many years, and provided an economic return to the community by way of tourism, for many years, however no asset management/replacement or upgrade strategies were in place, and so the council was left in 2018 with a non-compliant, run down facility,” he said.

“Significant funding went into making the park safer and more compliant to allow the business to operate as it is now, and the current managers are doing an excellent job in running the park, however the size of the park and the loss of the non-compliant annual site holders, means it is not able to run at a break even or profit.”

Concerned at the no profit situation and seeking a consultant for this task, Cr Bott sought the possibility of council’s economic development officer being involved.

The position, however, is vacant, due to budgetary constraints, which was regrettable, Mr Butler said but added that council has undertaken a lot of assessing work of parks along the Murray River and hiring a specialist for this next specific action is preferable to go to the market.

“Clearly, this is going to take significant investment,” Cr Bott said. “It is an opportunity to kick-start – to identify some groups to invest in it, it would be a good step going forward at this point in time to have the package up to go to market.”

Mr Butler said a more detailed report will be presented to council’s November meeting.

Sophia Close drainage

Cr Bott asked what actions and plans are being investigated or implemented to see that the flooding issue that has occurred at Sophia Close Corowa last year is not repeated.

Mr Butler said initial works were undertaken since the event to improve the stormwater pump system in this area and council is now also undertaking a stormwater drainage strategy, to lead to design proposals to allow council to consider funding sources, to implement improvements to drainage in Corowa.

“It should be known that the event was rated as a 1 in 2000 year event, however given the increase in intensity of storms, that whilst unlikely, there is no assurance that this or a similar or

worse event cannot occur again,” he said. A total of 192 mm of rain fell in around two hours.

“It should also be known that the increased focus of council in recent years on requiring sufficient stormwater and other infrastructure requirements are included in developments, is also a reason why there are increasing levels of dissatisfaction by developers, who have been in the past used to in some cases, lesser requirements,” the General Manager said.

“It is critical to ensure any improvements to the drainage in this area, do not result in increased risk to other areas currently not experiencing that, hence the strategy will ensure council considers any proposed works in the context of upstream or downstream impacts.

“The drainage systems in all of the towns and villages in the Federation Council areas are to various extents, in need of significant expenditure, and this is a further example of the need for council to continue to pursue rate increases as well as savings and other efficiencies.”

Representing residents of Sophia Close and Maddison Avenue, John Batten addressed council in May, 2023, advising that in the past 15 months the two streets were flooded at least three times and impassable for all but 4WDs.

A further updated report on Corowa drainage will be presented to council’s December meeting.