Central Coast Sports Council is pushing for Central Coast Council to reintroduce a 50 per cent subsidy for junior sports after it was cut to 25 per cent at the June 27 general meeting.
Sports Council president Graham Boland said a comment by Council Administrator Rik Hart was incorrect that the subsidy was reverting to 25 per cent “which it was before COVID”.
“The 50 per cent subsidy was introduced in 2019, well before COVID, and was meant to be long term,” he said.
“It came about during the harmonisation of fees between Wyong and Gosford clubs.”
Boland said he was concerned at Council’s comments in its response to submissions on the 2023-2024 Operation Plan tabled at the meeting.
The response said: “Council is aware that this increase will impose some financial concern to a few clubs and associations which is why the decision was made to retain a 25 per cent reduction to junior sporting fees”.
“As a Sports Council it is our responsibility to advocate for our sporting clubs, especially those clubs that this increase will financially affect,” Boland said.
“It could mean some clubs may have to consider closing, especially with the current cost of living expenses families are facing which is putting extra burden on families and clubs.
“Council said it undertook a review to ensure the reduction of the junior discount to 25 per cent is warranted.
“(But) it was not reported back to Council, which has been the normal practice in the past with a public report explaining the options and review findings.
“Nor were the sporting bodies asked for their opinion during this ‘review’.
“What did council review?
“Did they take into consideration the thousands of dollars local associations and clubs have contributed to the maintenance of sportsgrounds and facilities?
“Did they take into consideration the monies clubs have to pay out each season for the maintenance Council requires them to undertake each week?
“There is no public evidence of any review having occurred beyond a change to the percentage being made during the updating of the operational plan.”
Boland said the Sports Council also took issue with a comment at the meeting that Council spent $10M a year on sports grounds and got about $720,000 back.
“There was no mention of the contributions the sporting community makes to the maintenance of grounds and facilities,” he said.
“At the beginning of each season Council undertakes the initial line marking, after which clubs must maintain it for the rest of their season.
“A line marking machine costs about $2,000 to purchase; that is a lot of money for a club to find.
“Then there is the cost of the paint.”
Boland said on average lines needed to be re-marked every two weeks and it took up to three hours to mark two fields.
“For an average season, the cost of paint is $670 per club,” he said.
“The cost to Little Athletics is much greater due to the running tracks and line markings for other disciplines.
“Cricket clubs not only have to undertake line marking, they also must maintain their turf wickets along with associated equipment (rollers, mower, super soppers, hoses etc).
“The cost of a roller is about $35,500, a super sopper starts at $1,550, depending on size required, and a mower costs about $5,370.
“There is also other equipment that is needed to prepare a turf wicket.”
Boland said the cost for someone to prepare a turf wicket is about $5,000 per wicket for a season.
“There are other codes, such as baseball and softball, that have significant costs placed upon them for their sport to take place,” he said.
“Besides the above cost clubs must cover the cost of insurance, materials, maintenance costs on machinery and other equipment to ensure games can be undertaken safely each week.
“The Sports Council is disappointed that we do not have the support of Council on this matter.
“To put this extra burden on families and clubs is unconscionable when Council is aware that this increase will impose some financial concern to clubs and associations.
“The community misses not having councillors to raise issues like this matter with them, so they can advocate on the community’s behalf.”
When asked for a response, a Council spokesperson said: “Council has responded direct to the Central Coast Sports Council correspondence and has nothing further to add”.
Source:
Central Coast Sports Council
Above all else this is dishonest. council staff are complicit along with Mr Hart. How much do we pay Mr Hart each year to do us over?