INVESTIGATIONS into the relocation of the Barossa Archery Club have branded a move to Bethany Reserve ‘unviable’, but the club has hit back and said the report is biased.
A Barossa Council staff report has indicated preliminary earthworks for the club to move to Bethany would cost at least $60,000 for one site and $155,000 at the other.
The club said this more than 10 times the initial estimates they had sought from private contractors.
Council’s staff report examined estimated costs for required earthworks and necessary site preparation, and includes a recommendation stating that council should not approve the club’s relocation to Bethany.
“It is understood that the club has limited funds and could not meet the costs of necessary works itself,” reads the report.
“The costs identified to date could be accommodated by council but only at the expense of deferring other cost comparative approved projects in the budget.
“Given the cost of the proposal and taking into account the potential community benefit given the size of the club compared to the impact of other budgeted projects, officers are not able to recommend pursuing either site at Bethany Reserve as viable locations.”
Barossa Council was to consider the report and recommendation at yesterday’s council meeting, after the Herald went to print.
The Barossa Archery Club had requested to relocate its lease with council from its current facility at Archery Road, Tanunda, to another site in a bid to increase membership and develop its facilities.
The club suggested Bethany Reserve as the ideal location for the club, prompting elected members to request a report into relocation, including feedback from the community consultation, and addressing issues such as safety, infrastructure, insurance and costs.
While the most recent report and recommendation does not include community feedback, it states “this information is presented to council ahead of embarking on the community consultation process as it is felt to be sufficiently significant to influence council’s view on this matter”.
The report said it is not possible to assess the full costs to move the club to either site without more detailed work.
Barossa Archery Club project officer, Martin Stuart-Skinner, said the club is disappointed with the report put forward to council’s elected members.
“We got a budget estimate for one of the earthworks from private enterprise at around about $12,000,” he said.
“They (council staff) are saying this should not go ahead because our (council) works department has costed the same earthworks at $155,000.
“We got a figure of around $3000 for site A and they (council) are saying around $60,000.
Mr Stuart Skinner said he believed the report was misleading.
“They are quoting figures that are quite obviously 10-fold over the right figure,” he said.
“We regard that as one of the most biased reports by the council staff.”
Mr Stuart Skinner responded to the report with emails to elected members on February 18, pointing out what he believed were errors in the council staff report, and even including recommendations of his own for council to consider.
“Whilst the Barossa Archery Club has a limited number of members this is largely due to the restrictions of the present site in that there can be no toilets, no adequate club room and the space is insufficient to fully participate in inter club activities,” read the letter.
“Thus other clubs cannot be invited to the Barossa and development of the sport in this area is held in check by the present inadequacy within the facilities.”
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