West Wimmera Shire Council has made the decision to wipe $120,000 of debt that was passed on to Kaniva-Leeor Football Club for the Kaniva Community Hub project.
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The decision was made during a meeting on May 20, with council acknowledging that the hub project had scoping and cost estimation issues.
Waving the debt was regarded as "full and final settlement" between council and the club, with both parties now excluded from taking legal action to claim any financial benefit or restitution to do with the hub's overrun.
Concerns about paying off the debt had lingered for years, with the facility, which was completed in early 2017, ending up with a $351,000 shortfall.
To pay for the shortfall, council loaned the Kaniva Community Hub committee the aforementioned amount.
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The most recent adjustment to the paying back the loan amount came on January 4 this year, with council making the decision to alleviate some of the club's $160,000 debt at the time.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic making it incredibly difficult to make repayments, council decided that all money owed for the 2020/21 calendar would be written off.
Hub user groups were "thrilled" to learn that the football club will no longer be held responsible for repaying the remaining $120,000 debt.
In the statement on social media on May 27, the Kaniva Community Hub committee said with the weight being lifted off their shoulders, the future is now starting to look exciting.
"The Kaniva Community Hub, and all of the associated groups which it embraces, are now looking forward to focusing on our key objectives," the page stated.
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"(Key objectives include) providing a safe quality facility for the entire district to gather, while encouraging our youth to be involved in their community, through strong affiliation with volunteer and community and groups."
The committee said the objectives not only promote improved mental health outcomes, but they also create social and leadership opportunities.
While it has been a long journey for the football club to get to a debt free position, it couldn't have happened without mutual cooperation between council and the club.
The hub committee also thanked council for committing additional financial support to the Edenhope and District Community Centre at the May 20 meeting.
"In the same motion, council also committed an extra $198,000 to the Edenhope and District Community Centre which has encountered similar cost estimation and scoping issues," the committee said.
"We congratulate council on their financial commitment to both of these amazing major projects within the shire."
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