Settle goes $95K better on Haddon stadium

LABOR candidate for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, has pledged $220,000 for upgrades for the playing surface at the Haddon Recreation Reserve Stadium.

The election promise was made at the venue last Friday in front of a small group of people who frequently use the space.

“This tight-knit community deserves the best facilities for their sports teams and community groups,” Ms Settle said.

“This upgrade will mean the next generation of Haddon’s sporting starts have the facilities they deserve.”

Ms Settle’s pledge comes two weeks after Liberal candidate Andrew Kilmartin made a similar promise of $125,000 for the improvement works.

The competing pledges mean whoever takes power on 24 November, the Haddon Recreation Reserve Stadium is getting a new floor.

Yet the real winner could be Golden Plains Shire rate payers.

With a projected cost of $250,000, the Shire will have to make up any short fall to see the work completed.

Golden Plains Shire councillor Helena Kirby was upbeat about the commitment.

“Council has put $125,000 aside but because you’re [Ms Settle] being generous and offering nearly the full amount that would be amazing for council because then we’ll only have to provide $30,000,” she said.

“We can put the rest of the money back into community projects.”

The space is currently used by Haddon Primary School as a gym, as well as a badminton club, church and market.

There are significant issues to the playing surface. Boards are warped and the floor is uneven.

The problems are so bad that many groups have stopped using the facility.

At a time when the State Government has made significant contributions to local sport and sporting facilities across the state over the last four years, Ms Settle said the reason Haddon Stadium had missed out so far was due to priorities set by the municipality.

“Budgets are dividing up a pie and so there’s always rolling works going,” she said.

“It is a council asset and the council sets priorities, what needs to be done on sport and rec in their area and we take advice from council around that.”