A PROPOSED upgrade to the Karbeethan Reserve sporting precinct could cost $37 million, with a “funding shortfall” ruling out completing the project in one go.

Elected members discussed a report on the long-touted upgrades to both the Karbeethan Reserve precinct and Gawler Aquatic Centre at a Corporate and Community Services meeting last Tuesday night.

The report revealed the COVID-19 pandemic was set to have a “direct influence” on the council’s ability to undertake capital projects, including the Karbeethan and aquatic centre upgrades.

“The broad economic outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to impact upon the environment concerning the securing of external funding from potential partner organisations,” the report read.

“It is anticipated that funding programs and economic stimulus initiatives will be increasingly competitive, with most industries across the nation seeking assistance to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.”

The Karbeethan Reserve upgrade has been controversial with its tenants, with past reporting by The Bunyip revealing the Gawler & District Softball Association (GDSA) and the Riverside Cricket Club held concerns for their future if it went ahead.

Initial draft costings detailed in the report showed the four-stage project could cost $37 million.

The first two stages are completed within the existing area of the reserve and are expected to cost a combined $15 million, while the remaining two require council to acquire neighbouring land and could cost $22 million.

Both GDSA and Riverside feared the staged nature and the uncertainty of the second two stages may experience delays and leave them without a home and important infrastructure for an extended period. However, they both support the intent to revamp the Evanston Gardens facility.

The report shut down any chance of all the work being completed in one stage though, stating there is a “significant future capital funding shortfall” associated with finishing the upgrade in one go and would blow out the $37 million cost estimate.

In April of last year, the project and a $26 million upgrade to the Gawler Aquatic Centre were identified as the two most important for the council – which required external funding to complete – to cater to the region’s expected population boom.