THE mayor and a councillor have called for a more concerted effort in pulling in business at Goulburn’s new Veolia Arena.
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It follows revelations that the $6.7 million Veolia Arena and Grace Millsom Centre is operating at a $144,000 council loss. It is $11,000 more than expected in this financial year.
Councillors approved the extra allocation as part of this year’s budget.
Council tendered out management to Goulburn Events Management (GEM) last May.
Under the two-year arrangement, the council pays GEM $100,000 annually to run the facilities. But it also forks out $60,000 a year in operating costs, covering gas, electricity, fire services and security.
The company, affiliated with Goulburn Greyhounds, last year estimated $133,000 in net costs to Council initially.
By year five, if the contract ran its full term, this would reduce to $61,000.
In a recent report to Council, operations director Matt O’Rourke said new fees and charges for the facilities had generated greater interest.
“...A consequence of (this) is increased operating costs,” he wrote.
“Therefore, despite greater patronage no resultant improvement is expected in the operating bottom line.”
He forecast greater activity as the complex established its reputation as a “premier indoor sporting and event facility.”
The result did not sit well with Cr Margaret O’Neill, who sat on the Recreation Area Advisory Committee.
“I’d like to see more work being done (to boost usage) and get out there and sell ourselves,” she said.
“I’m not quite happy with the situation and we need to get our teeth into it.”
Mayor Geoff Kettle concurred.
“I tend to agree we can do more,” he said.
But in early February Cr O’Neill successfully moved a motion, supported by councillors, that Council waive a $1170 fee for the Veolia Arena, payable by the Scottish Dancing Association.
The amount was for the upcoming Southern Dance Competition on February 15, expected to draw 80 participants.
“The major use of the facility to date has been sporting events,” Mr O’Rourke reported at the time.
“The dance competition will highlight the broader potential of this facility and present an opportunity to showcase the Veolia Arena for future events. There will also be an opportunity to generate some positive media coverage on the facility.”
Usage was down in December and January, partly due to school holidays and cessation of junior sports. In January the complex registered a $10,319 operating deficit, which was $798 below the budgeted amount.
