RATEPAYERS will pay the full cost of a rebuild of the ageing Parkdale Yacht Club building after state politicians declined to contribute taxpayers’ money to the project.
Kingston councillors at June’s public council meeting decided to get started on the $2.35 million rebuild with some councillors expressing disappointment that both the Labor state government and Liberal state opposition had not made a co-contribution.
Council had postponed the go-ahead for about a year to give Parkdale Yacht Club time to try to drum up state support ahead of November’s state election.
Kingston mayor Cr Steve Staikos said after the meeting that Mentone Girl Guides and Beach Patrol Australia have agreed to share the building with the yacht club.
“We have been investing significantly in sporting facilities, kindergartens and life-saving clubs right across the municipality, and the Parkdale Yacht Club is next in line for much-needed improvements,” Cr Staikos said.
”We want to make the most of this fantastic new building by opening it up to other community groups throughout the week.”
Council officers will now prepare designs for the site and community feedback will be sought.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 4 July 2018