JESSE NEILL

BAROSSA Rams Rugby Club is facing a potential move from Lyndoch to Williamstown, due to the Barossa Council shifting its priorities in relation to The Big Project infrastructure upgrades.

Valued at nearly $39 million, the next stage of The Big Project was released by the council in August, endorsing a range of sport and recreation upgrades to be carried out across the region.

The works included improvements to change rooms, additional ovals and pitches, upgrades to clubrooms, and the relocation of various facilities.

Barossa Rams club president Fraser Vivian said upon the initial announcement of The Big Project earlier this year, their club was told they would be prioritised in their desired move to Tanunda.

“While there’s been no change to the fundamental masterplan, the priorities of the council and where the money will go first has definitely changed,” he said.

“We were told our move would happen first and that this would then facilitate football moving to Lyndoch straight after that.

“Things have changed though – the project now prioritises cricket, football and netball.”

Mr Vivian said the club is now faced with the prospect of relocating to Williamstown until grant funding can be found to support the project in Tanunda.

“In our opinion, a move to Williamstown will mean we will be left with club rooms that aren’t fit for purpose and an oval that would be in inferior condition compared to the one at Lyndoch,” he said.

Council has allocated $1.5 million in the current round of priorities to fund a sports field and associated infrastructure at Tanunda, however cannot provide a specific timeline on this project.

Director of corporate and community services Joanne Thomas said the council remains committed to rugby and understands the growth in participation the club is experiencing.

“Council reinforces there is no fundamental change to the original masterplan for rugby at Tanunda,” Ms Thomas said.

“The Big Project is a staged plan with a 35-year horizon, with all projects and sporting codes needing to be phased over the timeframe and subject to securing grant funding.”

Mr Vivian and other members of the club are in the process of lobbying Barossa councillors to ensure the potential move to Williamstown isn’t going to become a permanent one.

“We’ve been told the Williamstown move is temporary, but we’ve been given no timeline we can inform our members about,” he said.

“We don’t want to get settled into Williamstown and then be forgotten about because we will have a ‘functioning’ facility.

“We’ll be satisfied if the council can give us some kind of assurance that we will be facilitated in our move to Tanunda, and can give us a timeline on that move.”