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Newcastle sporting facilities ‘neglected’: Independents

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The poor state of the City’s sporting facilities is a cause for concern among many local organisations.

And, with the Local Government Elections looming on Saturday 4 December, the Newcastle Independents are vowing to conduct a thorough review on the issue within the next term of council.

They’ll evaluate each facility, with a specific focus on increased female and disabled participation.

A recent forum conducted by councillors John Church and Kath Elliott, Ward 2 candidate PJ Fallon and Ward 3 aspirant Dave Wild uncovered years of neglect at grounds, as well as high levels of frustration by user groups at being ignored.

Mr Wild, who has been involved in the sporting industry for a decade, said there were significant deficiencies within the local infrastructure for sporting clubs in the Newcastle LGA.

“Quite simply, sporting groups have had enough of council’s inattention,” he explained.

“The substantial increase in the female participation of sport in recent years has left the area horribly short when it comes to providing for those players.

“My own daughter plays rugby league and is forced to get changed in a single shed facility where there is a high likelihood a male could walk in at any moment.

“It is a potential lawsuit waiting to happen – and that’s not even considering the embarrassment the girls face weekly.”

Western Suburbs Junior Rugby League Football Club secretary Sue Moodie was equally frustrated.

“Two years ago, we had an agreement with council for an upgraded four-shed facility to accommodate our growing female participants,” she said.

“We were even given an approximate date before being spoken to some months later and simply withdrawn from the infrastructure list due to the budget being allocated to Supercars. 

“No discussion, we were just told.

“This facility is more than 50 years old and not what is required and expected in 2021.

“We are tired of council ignoring us.”

Lord Mayoral candidate John Church was just as surprised at the desperate situation some clubs are forced to play in.

“It was fantastic to engage with the sporting community and hear the issues they face,” he said.

“But, it’s disappointing at the same time that they put so many hours of their own time in each year, only to be let down by the poor facilities and playing fields.

“Sadly, some clubs have also had increases of thousands of dollars in fees from one year to the next.

“One football organisation is paying $90,000 in fees to council and can’t get any action on improvements.

“Instead, we see Labor spending millions on high-end representative sport at the expense of the kids and families who are playing sport every weekend.

“They deserve to have good facilities.”

Councillor Elliott also visited numerous facilities in the Ward 4 area, with the Beresfield Touch Association the worst.

“There is a bird’s nest in the roof, with a hole in the ceiling,” she said.

“I could actually see them when I was there, and the canteen is not at all fit for purpose.

“This is a huge and growing organisation.

“All these clubs pay fees to use these facilities, so we need to cater to their needs better than what we have been.”

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