Benalla Voice-Private Community Centre not with our rates or government grants

BENALLA SAINTS FOOTBALL CLUB SHONKY (NO NAMES) LETTER WRITERS…?

2010-01-22T20:41:00.015+11:00

COMMITTED BENALLA SAINTS AUSSIE RULES SUPPORT ADMITS

BENALLA RATE PAYERS WILL PAY FOR IT AGAIN…..

The unnamed ‘committee supporter (possibly Mr. Pollard Geoff Cooper, Anthony Putt, Mangles or MP Bill Sykes – what have they got to hide, won’t commit the their words because of lies?) admits that Benalla ratepayer will be funding the Benalla Lakeside Community Centre “Funds are coming from local, State and Federal Government bodies: - ‘local’- local government is Benalla Rural City Council.

NO NAME GIVEN ‘SHONKY’ NOT BEING HONEST WITH THE COMMUNITY CAN NOT BE TRUSTED

Blow from Benalla Ensign Wednesday 20 January 2010

(1/2) Join the spirit, don't knock it

Firstly I wish to respond to all the negative letters to the editor over the past months regarding the Benalla Lakeside Community Centre by the Friends of Lake Benalla and others.

The project so far has not solely been funded by the ratepayers of Benalla and the completion of the community centre will be the same. * Funds are coming from local, State and Federal Government bodies as well as from the local community who have the positive foresight to believe that Benalla does need a multi-purpose function centre catering for weddings, parties, business conferences etc. It is sad to read week in week out from the small few ill informed knockers of the project when their energies could be much better spent in getting with the community spirit of Benalla and moving forward.

Secondly, I would like to respond to the outrageous comments in last week's letters column regarding the development of a gymnasium and canteen (aka beer bar) for the Benalla Saints with the inference that ratepayers' funds are being used.

The construction of the gym and canteen (serving only food, lollies and soft drinks) is being by funded by the Benalla Saints Sports Club along with generous support from local businesses and other sporting clubs. The "in kind" labour has come from our dedicated football community whose sole objective is to provide a great facility for our sportsmen and women and the junior footballers and netballers of Benalla.

Furthermore it is a total fabrication that the upstairs stage of the complex is being built solely for the Benalla Saints Sports Club. The Saints will lease a part of the complex and be a paying tenant to the governing body.

Finally, it is the charter of the Benalla Saints Sports Club to be a club of both sporting and social excellence nurturing and encouraging our youth in becoming valuable members of our community.

Committed supporter
Benalla

* "FUNDS ARE COMING FROM LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BODIES": - LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS BENALLA RURAL CITY COUNCIL

BELOW AGAIN - NO NAME GIVEN ‘SHONKY’ NOT BEING HONEST WITH THE COMMUNITY CAN NOT BE TRUSTED

From Benalla Ensign Wednesday 20 January 2010

(2/2) Friends of the fanciful

For months now I have watched as a few people calling themselves Friends of Lake Benalla write in to the Ensign with their imaginary ideas on what is happening to the *Lakeside Community Centre: to see the recent comment calling the (+)new canteen and cool room (aka beer bar) is utter nonsense.

Did this person do any research on the new building? Obviously not as the new building will be used as a **gymnasium for the sports people of not only the Benalla Saints Sports Club but the Benalla Junior Football League.

***Over 200 sports people of the community will have the benefit of the gym - the funds have been raised by the Sports Club.

If you want to know what the new building is about I suggest that you contact the Sports Club. Your imagination of what you think is going on is quite a fabrication.

Offended Volunteer

Friend of Benalla Saints

* WHAT NO ALCOHOL TO BE SOLD AT THE BENALLA SAINTS FOOTBALL CLUB’S NEW LAKESIDE CLUB ROOMS ‘COME-ON’ WERE IS THE ALCOHOL GOING TO BE SOLD FROM - ON THE SECOND LEVEL IN THE LAKESIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE - (+)WHO IS SAYING THIS IS UTTER NONSENSE….???

** WHAT ABOUT THE YOUNG ONE’S THAT USE THE ARUNDLE ST GROUNDS THEY NEED SHELTER AND HOT SHOWERS, IT WAS SAID THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE THE USE THE NEW BSFC CHANGE ROOMS (TO FAR) THEY NEVER HAVE USED THEM AS IT WAS SAID THEY WOULD - THE KIDS ARE STILL LEFT OUT IN THE OPEN COLD AT THE AROUNDLE ST OVALS TO GET CHANGED. NOW IT IS SAID THE JUNIORS CAN USE THE GYM….!

WHAT OTHER SPORTING ORGANIZATION AGREE TO USE THIS GYM OTHER THEN BENALLA SAINTS AUSSIE RULES AND SAINTS NETBALL?

*** A COMMUNITY GYM ONLY OVER 200…? “SPORTING PEOPLE HAVE BENEFIT OF THE GYM” (YA LIKE WHO) – BENALLA SAINTS 1st, BENALLA SAINTS 2nd, BENALLA SAITS 3rd – BENALLA SAINT NETBALL GRADES A, B, C, D…. ONLY FOR BENALLA SAINTS, IS THAT NEAR OVER 200 BENALLA SAINTS FOOTBALL AND NETBALL PLAYERS.

Not even the Benalla Saints Cricket Club use the new changing rooms and, only district footballers to the lead up to the grand finals for the Ovens and King League. But the lead up to GF’s could be easily played in Wangaratta or any of the OKL grounds. And junior league at times. At first we were told the many sporting club will be using the news club rooms, not its just mainly for football and the girls netball.

They have really made a mess of it all, the news club rooms have been built in the wrong location – they just wanted fast, a lakeside casino type building for porker machines and alcohol mainly to make money without integrity to the Benalla community.

Roman Kaminski

BEWARE OF GEOFF COOPER'S LETTER OF FACTS THAT ARE FAKES FOR THE BUILDING OF THE BENALLA SAINTS FOOTBALL CLUBS' COMMUNITY CENTRE!

2009-10-23T21:16:00.000+11:00

Benalla Ensign 21 October 09 – letter to the editor by Geoff Cooper

The Facts

The Lakeside Community Centre on the Benalla Showgrounds is without question one of the most significant and important projects under taken by our community in terms of sporting and recreational facilities and the provision of a multipurpose venue for community, school, cultural events and activities.

This multi-purpose facility will provide a much needed large capacity community function centre enabling many organisations to have a base.

The Lakeside Community Centre Inc is a committee of community members with one objective to improve and provide a facility that all of the community and visitors to our city who can use and enjoy activities in a modern centre found in most other surrounding regional centres.

The Lakeside Community Centre does NOT rely on annual funding by ratepayers, it is a properly constituted association responsible for it own violability and debts.

To date and by the time this project is completed in excess of $400 000 of community raised money will have been spent assisting in the completion of this construction confirming strong community support.

It is the committee's belief that when completed and landscaped that this facility will enhance the lakeside area also taking pride of place together with the Art Gallery, Civic Centre and the Mural.

The Lakeside Community Centre has held numerous public meetings, inviting community members for inputs, submissions, concerns and participation.

We can confidently assure your group that there is no hidden agenda to destruct any part of this magnificent show grounds precinct.

We would be pleased to meet with Delfina Manor's Friends of the Lake group and provide any information, plans and concerns hopefully as one group moving forward for the betterment of Benalla.

Geoff Cooper, Secretary, Lakeside Community Centre

Private Community Centre and Entertainment Facilities

2009-09-27T15:59:00.000+10:00

FIRST READ ARGUMENT FOR AND AGAINST PRIVATE COMMUNITY CENTRE -
LINK BELOW
www.benallabloggers.blogspot.com/

POST 1 My understanding of the Lakeside Community Centre is that is all of the community to use - it has support from a range of people - I have been to several of the open meetings held to find out what the building will be used for - the Saints will only occupy part of the building and by doing so will pay for the repayment of the loan. The major part of the building will be used for the community at large - including Deb Balls for the schools. Yes Benalla has other function rooms - but not big enough or sound proof enough to hold large functions. At the moment the Debs can only have limited amount of attendees due to the lack of room at the Town Hall. The Drill Hall is not sound proof - so it is difficult to have a function with music. BPACC has movies and shows on most nights.

REPLY 1-1 Your understanding is meaningless we need guarrantee's - there are suitable functions rooms around Benalla without the excuse of needing another community centre there is the Golf Glub, Bowling Club, Moria/Benalla club, Alblacks Club room, Benalla rovers soccer club room, Art Gallery , town hall - yes we already have many function rooms all sizes for that particular need. Enough, stop misleading the Benalla Community.

POST 2 The saints footy and saints net ball have already taken enough of councils and governments grants-Lets have council and government grants for a new library.

REPLY 2-1 Can you tell me what the Saints footy and saints netball have in council and goverment grants?

REPLY 2-2 The whole opening of the Benalla saints lakeside changing rooms was by the than Mayor Pat Claridge it was only a Benalla saints football and Benalla saints netball club affair at a home game with no other sporting organisation at all, its just for the Benalla Saint netball and football club and will mislead people to get their lakeside club finished.

REPLY 2-3 Well why is it the Geoff Cooper (past president of Benalla Saints football club) and the Benalla Saints football club and netball club rooms - its all shonky from the start - read the auditor generals damning report.

POST 3 What would you suggest we do with the current building if we do not finish it we will have an eyesore sitting there for the world to see. There is no decent facility in Benalla to hold functions like deb balls, wedding receptions etc, I dont know anyone that wants to hold their wedding reception in a tin room with no heating or cooling and no acoustics (drill hall). A function was held there this year and the police complained all night about the noise levels from the band, so you can cross that one off the list of places to hold functions. Some of you people really need to get a life and move on to another cause this one needs to be put to bed. Finish the building Benalla and the people that are against it dont ever have to use the place, at the moment it is an embarrassment to the council and the town, I will guarantee that more of Benalla's Youth will use this building than a new library.

REPLY 3-1 A guarantee from this pro-benalla lakeside community centre committee (for the football club), you wont give your name. The football club will just stooge money to get the building finished for their use on their grounds.

REPLY 3-2 The whole project was shonky from the start (even shonky councilors) if it was done properly it would not be an eyesore - As for functions there is the Art Gallery, BPPAC or restaurants around town - Yes council is a embarrassment they say 'Benalla is home town to Ned Kelly' which is not true and misleading. - You say, you guarantee that more of Benalla's Youth will use this building than a new library. Benalla youths will be in there getting drunk instead making money for the football club, we already have a youth drinking problem in Benalla. You are just concerned for your own business and wellfare.

POST 4 Will the saints lock members of the Benalla community out every time they play with their balls? As happens to anyone wanting to use the walking track!

REPLY 4-1 No they wont - any one wanting to walk the lake from the street can go through the entrance in Bridge Street and advise the gate keeper that they are walking - surely anyone who is out walking wont mind walking the extra 100 meters to do that - any one walking on the walking track around the lake will be able to do so without interuption. It is only the top gate that is closed off the 9 afternoon a year that the Saints play.

THE ABOVE POSTS AND REPLY - HAVE BEEN INPORTED FROM OTHER SITE