The Glenelg Shire Council has paused further work on the Portland Foreshore Community Pavilion in order to consider possible new sites for the building.
Council last week adopted recommendations from a report into the project which included halting the current tender process and evaluating two other sites in addition to the current proposed location at the Portland Yacht Club site.
The additional locations are on Lee Breakwater Road south of the Maritime Discovery Centre and northeast of the TS Henty building (the naval cadet unit).
These locations came into consideration following recent discussions with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) and the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DDECA) and in line with feedback received.
Locating and building the pavilion at either of these locations will necessitate an extra cost – as will the current location – and council also voted to seek additional funding either internally or externally to meet the recommended location, design and construction requirements.
Mayor Karen Stephens said while the path to the pavilion had been a long one – the project began in 2021 and has seen extensive community and stakeholder consultation since – it was important to get it right, given the building would be a once-in-a-generation project.
“This project has already had one site change but for Council to be able to build it, we need approval under the Marine and Coastal Act (MACA) from DEECA,” Mayor Stephens said.
“We have ‘in principle’ approval for the Yacht Club site but will also need to find further funds for it to proceed, given some extra work needing to be done there.
“The Department has since indicated the TS Henty site rates slightly higher under its criteria as well so we need to consider it, while the site near the Maritime Discovery Centre is also an option now.
“Council will also look at a possible alternative design and costings for consideration.
“We have already received $5m in funding from the State Government and we will need to get its approval to extend the terms of that agreement as well as getting DEECA support for MACA consent.”
