The shire’s draft budget, approved at a special meeting last night, include the contribution towards the plan, which mayor Chris O’Connor described as “well worth investigating”. 

The idea was raised at a meeting of the town’s progress association in April and a sub-committee was formed to push for the feasibility study. 

The plan would see the town’s football oval moved to land near the golf course. Golf, football, cricket and tennis would feature in the new hub but it could also include bowls, squash and possibly education facilities.

A large “country club”-like facility would also be built under the proposal, capable of holding large-scale functions. 

At last week’s Progressing Cobden meeting, sporting and community precinct sub-committee members said funding of the study would come from a $30,000 grant, the $10,000 shire commitment and contributions from the user groups. 

Sub-committee spokesman David Dickinson said the committee had estimated they would need a $50,000 study and at this stage were still compiling ideas. 

“It’s still a bit pie-in-the-sky at the moment, but we welcome the council’s contribution towards a study,” he said. 

“We’ve had some great feedback from all sorts of groups. So far we haven’t had any negative feedback, everyone seems to think it’s a great idea.

“At this stage everything is on the table, we are putting together a list of ideas to put to whoever does the study. They can then rein us back in.”

He said they were hopeful of receiving a government grant and then raising another $10,000 from user groups. 

Corangamite Shire mayor Chris O’Connor said it was a great idea and council was happy to see community groups working together. 

“They’ve seen an opportunity to work together for funding, rather then competing against each other,” he said. 

“It’s building a long-term vision, one that will hopefully become a reality in the not too distant future.” 

The council’s draft budget was unanimously approved by councillors a last night and will be sent to public exhibition and comment.

Public submissions will close on June 10.