Shire of Katanning votes to approve $250,000 loan to finish country club function centre

Katanning’s largest sporting organisation has scored a major win in its push to complete a long-standing redevelopment. Shire of Katanning councillors voted unanimously at their meeting last Thursday to approve a request by the Katanning Country Club for a $250,000 loan. The Katanning Country Club approached the Shire in April with a request for the loan due to an increase in costs linked to broadening of the scope of their clubroom renovations to make it into a community function centre. Speaking at the meeting, Cr Kristy D’Aprile acknowledged the role of local volunteers in delivering the club’s $2.5 million redevelopment. “Like all great things, sometimes they can run over budget and over time,” she said. “I think by agreeing to the loan, we are showing our support of that organisation.” Ms D’Aprile said she “absolutely” agreed with the council’s move to register a mortgage over the club’s property to lower the level of risk the Shire is taking on board, describing her vote for the loan as an “act of faith” in the KCC. “The risk that we are accepting today doesn’t just happen today but will happen over the life of the loan,” she said. “I believe that those who are involved in the club at the moment have great plans and with all integrity plan on running that organiation really well.” Councillor Michelle Salter said the new facilities at the club would be great for the community. “One of the things that I love about what they are doing is they are trying to open it up to everyone and make it more inclusive,” she said. “It is something I will look forward to seeing when they are finished.” In a report tabled ahead of the meeting, corporate and community executive manager Denise Gobbart said if the loan was approved the club would no longer be expecting a $170,000 shortfall for the project. Deputy Shire president John Goodheart noted his earlier concerns about the club’s financial capacity and potential post-loan shortfall had been alleviated. “We’ve been given all the assurances and all the information we have received now suggests that at this time, it’s a good way to go and it’s going to be the right thing for our community,” he said. The club is expected to pay an interest rate of approximately 3.7 per cent on the loan, which will be paid off over the next 10 years. The Shire will fund the loan through the WA Treasury Corporation, with the club expecting to be able to repay the loan predominately through increased venue hire and turnover alongside smaller increases in membership fees and fundraising efforts.