COUNCIL will cut operational funding to the Donald Simpson Community Centre in 2018 after halving its contribution from $100,000 in the next financial year.
It will continue annual maintenance works to the value of $60,000 and waive rent.
The decision will see the centre’s total income slashed by about 28 per cent.
It was taken in a closed session of council, with six councillors voting for, and five against.
Centre board chairman Tony Christinson said the centre had no inclination of the decision and that it was based on inaccurate information from council officers.
“We are not bitter about it, but we will try to change the council’s minds,” he said.
“The centre board will refute the inaccurate statements which, on the surface, contribute to the decision.”
The decision comes after centre members voted against a proposal by council to develop the centre into a major one-stop shop for senior citizens that would incorporate other organisations.
Council announced that project in December 2015 and committed itself to find $4 million in funding.
In a letter to their 2200 members, Mr Christinson said the latest decision would mean a significant challenge.
“This will involve some serious debate by the board to determine our future actions to ensure, not only the survival of the centre, but its continued improvement and growth.”
Mr Christinson said there were more than 50,000 visits last year and they had about 120 volunteers.
Mayor Karen Williams said council made the decision to ensure community groups were funded fairly and equitably.
“This decision will see a larger number of local seniors able to access funding as part of our strong and connected community’s framework initiative,” she said.
“This initiative will also increase social services for the youth and those with disabilities, which are demographics not currently supported by the Donald Simpson Centre.”
She said council had given the centre more than $1 million for infrastructure and services over the past 30 years and the decision would not have been a surprise for the centre.
“We have worked with the centre in recent years to support its financial independence, encouraging it to build a business case to ensure its sustainability and make it less dependent on ratepayer funding.”
Mr Christinson said funding options presented to council were not those the centre expected.
“The council officer concerned either misled us or the options were changed by someone else,’’ he said.
The centre was built in 1987 with $536,667 from council, $366,667 from the federal government, $66,6666 from state government and $39,000 from public donations.
