THE Portland Foreshore Community Pavilion project tender has been halted.
That is the big news from the Tuesday night’s Glenelg Shire meeting, as councillors debated the fate of the troubled project.
Councillors had before them, five possible recommendations for the project:
1. Council endorses the halting of the Portland Foreshore Community Pavilion project tender for the construction of a new building at the Portland Yacht Club location.
2. Council undertakes an evaluation and report back to council with recommendations for the three Lee Breakwater Road locations: (a) Portland Yacht Club location, (b) new location south of the Maritime Discovery Centre, and (c) new location adjacent to TS Henty.
3. Council retains the existing building detailed design and provide one alternate concept design and associated costings for consideration.
4. For council to seek to secure the current $5 million grant funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for the project through to its completion.
5. Council to seek additional funding internally and/or externally to meet the recommended location, design and construction requirements of the new Portland Foreshore Community Pavilion.
It was eventually decided that all five recommendations in full would pass with the only dissenting voice being from Cr John Northcott.
One of the most strident campaigners to have the project review, Committee for Portland board chair Steve Garner, said he was pleased with council’s Tuesday night decision.
“That's what we asked for back last year," he said.
Mr Garner said there were several concerns regarding the plan to put the facility on the site of the Portland Yacht Club with one of the biggest being the size of the proposed two-storey building.
“Putting that right in the middle of our foreshore we thought was going to just block so much of the view of an active working port,” he said.
Mr Garner said the location south of the Discovery Maritime Centre would be the most preferable.
“That was the area that we felt would be more appropriate for a facility like that,” Mr Garner said.
“That was closer to the marina, where yachts actually come in to visit.”
Portland Yacht Club commodore Andrew Hays was also positive about the decision made by council.
“We are glad that council has listened to the community feedback,” Mr Hays said.
“All three of those sites have some challenges and some benefits to the club but we are happy to work with the council to get the best outcome.”
Mr Hayes said that if council decided to build the facility in the two alternate locations it would make it easier for the club in terms of transition.
“We can operate in our current facility right up until the other ones are built then move across,” he said.
Mr Hayes hopes the council continues to liaise with the community on the Portland Foreshore Community Pavilion project.
Talking to the Observer following the meeting, Glenelg Shire Mayor Karen Stephens said the recommendations came following new information given to council from both Regional Development Victoria and the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA).
“We've had a series of meetings with them just in the last couple of weeks, and this was determined to be the best way forward,” Cr Stephens said.
In July 2023 DEECA provided ‘in principal’ approval for the new building to be built at the existing Yacht Club location, and it was decided by council in October 2023 to build the new pavilion there.
In early 2024, following concerns raised by Portland residents and community groups DEECA carried out an evaluation of several locations, identifying the most viable under the Marine and Coastal Act (MACA).
Councillors were informed of the three most viable sites with DEECA scoring the Portland Yacht Club site a seven out of 10 following a desktop assessment.
The site next to T.S. Henty Naval Reserve Cadets building rated 7.5 out of 10 while the new location south of the Maritime Discovery Centre rated five out of 10.
Cr Stephens said that the council decision to halt the tender process was the natural consequence of carrying out a re-evaluation.
“If we're going to look at the alternative sites, then obviously we have to halt the tender process," she said.
During the council meeting there were fears raised that a delay in the project would cause costs to rise, however, Cr Stephens told the Observer that getting the project right was what council ultimately wanted because once built, the facility would operate for multiple generations.
“Costs will rise because there will be delays now in the project,” she said.
“But I think it's really important that we get the project right.”
During the council meeting Cr Michael Carr requested an amendment be made to remove recommendation 2b, an evaluation of a new location south of the Maritime Discovery Centre, due to concerns around time and costs.
“It (removing 2b) would bring the project forward by 12 months I believe,” he said.
The amendment was seconded by Cr Gilbert Wilson.
However, Cr Robyn McDonald, among other councillors, spoke against the amendment, and it ultimately failed.
“I think if we are going to do this (the project) and do this properly let’s look at all the options on the table,” Cr Robyn McDonald said when voicing her opposition.
According to Cr Stephens, Glenelg Shire Council will now work with DEECA in evaluating each of the sites.
