Media Responses (12 - 16 July 2021)

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Published: 13th August 2021

Media Responses (12 - 16 July 2021)

CONTENT: Waste water tender and Pavilion hire frees.

Gympie Times: 13 July – Waste water tender

QUESTION:

Info about the attached tender; including total budget, what buildings are being upgraded, and when the work is hoped to start and finish.

ANSWER:

Council is inviting suitably licenced and experienced contractors to submit proposals to upgrade existing on-site wastewater systems at seven different sites. The works may include renewed connections from the building asset, septic holding tanks, pipework runs, trenches, pumps, fenced areas and signage upgrades. The sites are:

Kann Park Public Amenities in Kandanga
Mary Fereday Park Public Amenities in Carter’s Ridge
Marg McIntosh Park Public Amenities in Widgee
Attie Sullivan Park Public Amenities in Southside
Amamoor Recreation Grounds & Lions Park Amenities in Amamoor
Long Flat Hall in Long Flat
Curra Country Club in Curra.

As this is a competitive tender process, council is seeking the best value for money. While council has budgeted for these works, it is hopeful that the works can be completed at a more competitive price, without compromising a quality outcome.

It is expected that the works will be completed mid-2022, weather and construction conditions permitting.

This is just one of the projects that council is delivering as part of its back to basics mandate, under which it is progressing with upgrading and maintaining the region’s infrastructure.

Gympie Times: 13 July - Hire Fees Pavilion

QUESTION:

The council recently advised Gympie Basketball that the rate for local sporting fixtures has gone up $55.00 per hour as of July 1. Mr Brown said council did not communicate with the organisation prior to this. Why was there no consultation with the GABA prior to the endorsement of the fees hike?

Has the council raised fees at facilities anywhere else? If so, which ones?

Which other local sporting organisations have been affected by the fee increase? Were they consulted with prior to the budget?

They say there was no other response to this question from councillors. He says the highest cost for the club to run the competitions each season is the court hire fee. By doubling this fee from $27.50 to $55 per hour, is an additional cost of over $10,000 per year for court hire. Why has the council not been in more contact with the league over what is a substantial price increase for them to manage?

What is the status of planning for a new multi-purpose indoor sporting facility, or just any additional sporting facilities in the Gympie region? The GABA says player numbers are at capacity and the only solution right now is to increase team sizes, which is unfair to players. Where is the council at with plans for a new stadium, or increased facilities?

Recently released schedules show the GABA will not have access to the Pavilion for at least 23 dates of the upcoming season, a lot of these due to "one off events" put on by the council because the Civic Centre is unavailable. What is the council's solution to this? Why is the region's only multi-purpose indoor sporting facility not available for indoor sporting clubs on so many occasions in the back half of this year?

ANSWER:

Gympie Regional Council officers discussed the increase in fees for the hire of The Pavilion with both the volleyball and basketball groups prior to the adoption of the new fees and charges. Written correspondence was also sent to the Basketball Association.

Please find attached confirmation of fees and charges (Page 16)

The increase is to assist in the expense associated with opening the venue, such as staff, cleaning, insurance, utilities, etc. However this does not cover all associated costs.

COVID-19 wasn’t a planned event, however as the Civic Centre will be used by Queensland Health as a vaccination hub, both council and community events booked into the Civic Centre require an alternate venue.

Council understands that this has created an issue regarding the availability of The Pavilion. While it is a challenge to find a sustainable balance of cultural, community and sporting events within the one venue, council is trying to ensure there is equity and fairness to all community groups. Council understands this is not a perfect solution, however community events such as school formals and the Eisteddfod are well supported and attended by the community. Unfortunately, due to no fault of their own, these events now require a new venue.

Regarding a multi-purpose indoor sporting facility, council produced a feasibility study in 2019 for consideration. The cost of a new venue was and is a major budget consideration. Over the past 14 months, council’s true financial position was realised, including the issues of low to no maintenance and the poor condition of council’s infrastructure (such as water and sewerage). Budget needs to be reallocated to these areas.

Council is not in a financial position to build any new large facilities, nor cover the ensuing maintenance costs. However, council understands the need for a facility and will be looking at options into the future once council’s financial position is more secure.

Gympie Today: 13 July - Hire Fees Pavilion

QUESTION:

How much community consultation was made with the affected sporting codes before the decision was made to increase the court hire costs at the pavilion?

Have there been increases in hire costs for other venues such as One Mile, Albert Park and Ray Warren Oval?

Is council open to the idea proposed by the Basketball Association to build a purpose built facility funded through state and federal grant money?

What is council's response to claims indoor sports such as Basketball and Volleyball, who are equally confined when it comes to numbers (and the sporting squeeze) have been forgotten when it comes to future planning (such as the proposed sporting complex overhaul at Albert Park and One Mile Complex)?

ANSWER:

Please find attached confirmation of fees and charges (Page 16).

The increase is to assist in the expense associated with opening the venue, such as staff, cleaning, insurance, utilities, etc. However this does not cover all associated costs.