THE new $7 million community hub at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park has failed two fire safety inspections.
Firefighting pump pressure tests in the past fortnight have fallen short of minimum standards for the CFA to sign off on the building’s certificate of occupancy. 
Loddon Shire Council briefed the Wedderburn Redbacks on Tuesday night  with winter sport at Donaldson Park unlikely for the first half of the 2024 season.
The Redbacks had been scheduled to play their first football, netball and hockey home games of the North Central league season at Donaldson Park on April 20 against Sea Lake Nandaly.
But fire hydrant test failures have put matches through to June under a cloud.
Shire operations director Steve Phillips said fixes to hydrant pressure included installation of two 12,500 litre tanks and pumps to achieve fire safety compliance under the National Construction Code.
Mr Phillips said pre-construction diagnostic tests had shown sufficient water pressure to meet the required output of 20 litres a second from four outlets at two hydrants.
“Hydraulic engineer reports showed everything would work ... in theory it did but that has not happened in practice,” he said. “We have had two tests done, one last week, each using different methodology and they have both produced the same results.”
The new building, which includes sporting changerooms, has two fire hydrants, each with two outlets. Tests showed one hydrant met water volume and pressure requirements but the second fell 1.5 litres a second short of 20 litre mandate while combined figures met output but fell short on pressure.
“We are diagnosing why the pumps and pressure have not come up to specifications and working with the builder and plumber to install additional tanks and pumps to ensure compliance for the future and the building being open and accessible to the community as soon as possible.”
Mr Phillips said the fix would cost an estimated $150,000.
“The project is still under budget. It is not over budget at this stage,” Mr Phillips said.
“We will be talking with the sporting clubs about what they need for training facilities while the building remains unable to be used.”
Redbacks’ president Chris Hargreaves said the club was disappointed the new facility would not be ready for home games when the season started and was working with the league on options. These include swapping home games for early rounds in the season.
North Central league president Tim Lockhart said officials would work with the Redbacks to achieve an on-schedule start at their home ground for the 2024 season.
Loddon Shire awarded the project contract in 2022 after adopting plans for the new complex included in a 2016 feasibility study.
Funding has come from the Federal and State Governments, community groups and Harness Racing Victoria. 
The building was completed late last year and landscaping is nearly finished.