Council adopts ‘go it alone’ strategy to kickstart stalled Frankston Basketball Stadium redevelopment

COUNCIL has adopted a ‘go it alone’ strategy as it attempts to break an impasse that derailed a $12 million revamp of the Frankston Basketball Stadium.

A dispute over a lease for Frankston Basketball Stadium has derailed a $12 million redevelopment of the facility.

FRANKSTON Council has adopted a ‘go it alone’ strategy as it attempts to break an impasse that derailed a $12 million redevelopment of the Frankston Basketball Stadium.

The council has effectively moved to sideline the Frankston and District Basketball Association (FDBA) — with which it is locked in an acrimonious dispute over lease negotiations.

Angry councillors also accused the association of making misleading statements with a furious mayor Brian Cunial saying it had dumped a “big bucket of filth” on the council.

Council on Monday voted to:

* Withdraw all previous offers to the FDBA for the stadium lease;

* Commit another $1 million — to replace the same amount the FDBA was due to put towards the stadium redevelopment;

* Confirm council chief executive Dennis Hovenden’s authority to enter into a contract with builder Devco for stage one of the redevelopment; and

* Request Mr Hovenden “take all necessary measure to expedite” construction.

Councillors also authorised Mr Hovenden to proceed with planning and design work for stage two — but not proceed with procurement — until “funding is secured and a new lease, management or hire agreement is finalised”.

Mr Hovendon told councillors that “no-one is happy with the current situation”.

“We have had some difficult discussions in recent months and there’s been a variety of views put forward,” he said.

“These two views are in conflict with each other.”

He said the motion put forward for councillors to vote on was an “attempt to move beyond the impasse”.

Cr Colin Hampton said the basketball association was currently being charged $28,983 annually in rent.

“We have said we would waive this rental until completion of the project,” he said.

Cr Hampton said other basketball associations paid significantly more with Keilor forking out $320,000 annually for stadium rental.

“We are putting up more money for this group ... than we have for any other sporting group in this city.”
Deputy mayor Steve Toms said council had repeatedly offered an olive branch to the FDBA in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

But veteran Cr Glenn Aitken slammed the council’s move to break the deadlock — saying its motion failed to provide clarity on how much rental would be paid in the future.

He said the council had also failed to act transparently in its dealings with the FDBA.

Cr Aitken said the council’s move amounted to a “form of punishment” for the basketball association.

Several councillors voiced concern the motion had only been presented to them an hour before their meeting started last week.

Councillors voted in favour of the motion with only Cr Aitken against and councillors Lillian O’Connor and Kris Bolam abstaining.

A report presented to councillors stated the stadium rental had been independently valued at $305,000 annually, but improvements could see it rise to between $450,000 to $500,00 annually.

The FDBA board is due to meet this week to consider its response to council’s decision.

It has previously accused the council of making misleading comparisons with rentals involving stadiums for other basketball associations.

Leader previously reported that the council halted work on the $12 million redevelopment of Frankston Basketball Stadium after the association rejected terms that would give the council a percentage of its income on top of its rent.

FBDA officials accused the council of a “cash grab” and making misleading statements.

Prior to Monday’s resolution, council had sought rent of $60,000 a year plus a percentage of the association’s revenue - amounting to about $132,000 a year.

It subsequently moved to waive the claim on revenue while the redevelopment was underway.

The original funding model for the stadium included Federal Government ($5.2 million), State Government ($2.5 million), council ($4 million) and the FDBA ($1 million).

The stalled works include four new courts including a new ‘‘show court’’ with about 600 seats.