Rotary funding fury

Rotary Club volunteers installed four new seats at Rotary Park on their own budget.

By Rowan Forster

 Pakenham Rotary Club has lashed Cardinia Shire over a lack of funding for community projects.

The uncharacteristic move by the non-for-profit comes after it was forced to bankroll upgrades to Rotary Park with little council assistance.

Rotarian Ian Wake said Cardinia Shire’s lack of approachability has been “very disappointing”.

“We’ve had to pay for community assets entirely on our own,” he said.

“The council is giving us very little support and it’s disappointing because we’d be able to do great work with more financial support.

“I even sent a letter to the CEO last year and he didn’t even directly respond to that letter.”

Mr Wake said the group has been forced to go over council’s head, even applying to the State Government for funding.

“We want to add toilets, a playground, seating and trees to Rotary Park – but it’ll cost about $150,000,” he said.

“Council constantly say we need more of these spaces, but they aren’t willing to cough up money to help out.”

Despite scrambling to finance the full project, volunteers will next week plant 1,500 trees at Rotary Park – all out of their own pockets.

It comes as Cardinia Shire prepares to absorb part of a $50 million Andrews Government boost to the Growing Suburbs Fund, intended for the creation of parks, playgrounds and town hubs.

“Our Budget boost to the Growing Suburbs Fund will mean more projects that matter to families in Melbourne’s outer suburbs,” Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz said.

“We’re helping councils in our fastest growing suburbs build and upgrade facilities they need.”

The Cultural Centre Redevelopment, the $1.5 million Hills Hub and the $500,000 James Bathe Recreation Reserve grants have all been approved under the 2017-2019 Growing Suburbs Fund.

Mr Wake is hopeful Rotary Park will gauge council’s interest in the latest injection.

“We’ll be the first on the list to apply,” he said.