Shire of Katanning set to make final decision on $250,000 Katanning Country Club loan

The Shire of Katanning council is set to vote on whether to approve a $250,000 loan to the Katanning Country Club to finish its new function centre at a meeting on Thursday. It comes after former club president and project manager David Stade presented at a council meeting on April 28, explaining to councillors the club was facing a $248,000 funding shortfall in order to finish the $2.5 million redevelopment project. The project would convert the club rooms into a new function centre to be used by the wider community. In a report to councillors ahead of the meeting, Shire of Katanning corporate and community executive manager Denise Gobbart recommended councillors agree to provide a “self-supporting loan” to the club. “They are confident that they can meet an estimated annual payment of $30,000 with an increase in venue hire and increased turnover by hosting large sporting events,” she said. “It is also proposed for a modest increase in membership and fundraising, as well as a reduction in costs through volunteer work. A month-long advertising period was held last month to gather public feedback on the proposed loan, during which only one response was received in support of the proposal. Revised figures provided to the council by the Country Club following its April meeting show the KCC will no longer have a major shortfall once the loan is included in its funding sources. If approved, the club will pay an estimated 3.7 per cent interest rate on the loan, which will be paid back to the Shire over the next 10 years. Katanning Country Club president Ian Hanna expressed optimism ahead of Thursday’s vote. “We are very comfortable with our position, and we are very comfortable with the Shire’s position,” he said. “The function venue is going to be a great asset for the community.”