Member for Western Victoria James Purcell says the Warrnambool City Council should “get on with the job” in regard to upgrades to Reid Oval.
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Mr Purcell announced $7 million in state government funding for the long-awaited redevelopment of the oval at the Hampden Football Netball League grand final on Saturday.
He said it was now time for the council to tackle the upgrades.
Council chief executive officer Bruce Anson told The Standard on Tuesday it was moving through the processes to hire an architect to come up with detailed designs and plans for a turf and lighting upgrade.
It will deliver the project in stages, with no definitive timeline for when works would begin, or how long they could take.
The council is seeking advice from turf experts and the AFL about the redevelopment, as well as input from the oval’s user groups.
Mr Anson said the council was looking to appoint an architect as soon as it possibly could.
Mr Purcell is keen to see the works get underway sooner rather than later.
“I have a list of people on my desk to ring who want works to start yesterday,” he said.
“They are saying what can we do?”
He said community members had been in touch with his office asking when the upgrades would start.
“They are saying what's the hold up?,” he said.
“This would have to be one of the biggest amount of people from the community who have been in touch with me about an issue.”
He said there were no excuses for the council not to begin work on the oval straight away.
“Normally there is an excuse, whether its waiting for a grant, or the government has to find the money in the budget,” he said.
“But this is $7 million to do the works. It’s all there.
“Don't mess around.
“This is a gift, use it. Just get in and use it.”
He urged the council to get on with the turf upgrades first.
“I can understand they are talking about change rooms, but for the ground it's just a matter of fixing it up,” he said.
“They (the council) look after enough grounds, they should be able to do it.
“It's not that complicated, just do it.
“That’s what people are saying – don't mess around it, just do it.”