An extraordinary council meeting will be held on Monday night for councillors to debate a motion voted for by council two weeks prior.
Cowra shire council voted to progress an application for grant funding to redevelop the Cowra Regional Art Gallery at the first meeting of the year on January 28, in a notice of rescission.
The potential $5 million grant application to the state government’s Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program (REDCIP) has drawn criticism, however, from councillors Paul Smith, Nikki Kiss and Karren Cave, who presented forward a motion to rescind the application plans, announced by council on Thursday afternoon.
Councillors Smith, Kiss and Cave noted that while the NSW government did invite Cowra Shire Council to present a grant application of up to five million dollars, a co-contribution of 20 per cent was recommended from any applicants.
The rationale presented to councillors in their motion said the co-contribution for the potential redevelopment would require an $800,000 investment from council.
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“Senior council staff have received advice that the grant is very heavily contested,” the motion read.
“Although the grant guidelines allow proposals to seek relief from the required 20% co-contribution, securing a grant without a full co-contribution would be challenging.”
Residents are invited to have their say at the meeting, required to request participation during the public forum no later than 12pm, Monday 10 February, either via telephone at (02) 6340 2000 or by email at council@cowra.nsw.gov.au
Any statements must be no more than five minutes, and relate to the topic of the extraordinary meeting.
Councillors Smith, Kiss and Cave said in their motion that investing staff time and incurring professional service fees to complete a revised proposal would be ‘uneconomic,’ and the motion should be recindended until future grant opportunities are available.
The proposed Cowra Regional Art Gallery upgrade was initially slated as part of a multi-million redevelopment of Cowra’s civic square. The Civic Square Redevelopment Master Plan, according to draft plans presented to the public in 2021, could include a redevelopment of Darling Street, widening access to the Peace Bell for events and speeches, shared outdoor spaces and redeveloped civic and arts centres.
The meeting will be held at 5:30pm on Monday night and livestreamed online at www.youtube.com/@cowra-council
More to come.
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