West Wimmera Shire Councillors have put a plan in place to alleviate some of the debt owed by Kaniva-Leeor United Football Club for the Kaniva Community Hub Project.
The Kaniva based football club owed $160,000 to council for the community hub project.
Council discussed the debt at the council meeting held on Wednesday 16 December 2020 at Edenhope council chamber. Council acknowledged that the football club is severely impacted in its capacity to repay the debt due to Victorian COVID-19 restrictions which have made face to face fundraising impossible.
At the meeting Councillor Tim Meyer moved:
“That in relation to the Kaniva Community Hub Project and the debt of $160,000 owing by the Kaniva-Leeor United Football Club to West Wimmera Shire Council:
- All money owed in payments for the calendar year 2020 and 2021 be written off.
- No further interest be charged on the remaining debt for the balance of this loan.”
The motion was carried 3:2 with Councillors Bruce Meyer, Tim Meyer and Tom Houlihan all in favour and Councillors Jodie Pretlove and Trevor Domaschenz against the motion. A further motion was made by Cr Domaschenz to have the hub project financial aid offset by rental received from Kaniva Racecourse Reserve. All councillors were in favour except for Cr Houlihan who abstained from the vote.
West Wimmera Shire Council Mayor, Bruce Meyer, believes this decision by council will make repaying the debt a lot easier for the football club.
“2020 has been tough enough for everyone living through the Coronavirus lockdown and restrictions,” he said.
“let alone by organisations who are reliant on social events to fundraise for projects.
“We believe council’s decision to write off the debt for the next two years and remove interest charges, will help the football club and the Kaniva community recover a little without saddling them with a debt they cannot pay back immediately.
“We hope to see easier times ahead and a resumption of some of the fun and social fundraising we, as a community, know and love.”
Unconfirmed meeting minutes are available on council’s website at www.westwimmera.vic.gov.au/Council/Inside-council/Council-Meetings/Minutes-and- Agenda
Hard paper copies of council minutes can be requested by phone 13 99 72 or by writing to West Wimmera Shire Council, PO Box 201 Edenhope, VIC 3318.