Will the big men continue to fly at Memorial Oval? The council is considering a proposal for matches to eventually be shifted to Port Oval. Ruckman Lachlan Pole, of Lions, clashes with Shane Curnow, of Central Augusta, in the first round of the Spencer Gulf season this year at Memorial Oval.
Football faces a bill of more than $20,000 to use Memorial Oval under plans put to the council.
Other sports including junior soccer could also face dramatic increases in costs levied by Port Pirie Regional Council.
There is also a long-range plan for Port Oval to become the home of Spencer Gulf League matches, as well as cricket, and for Memorial Oval and Pirie West Oval to be the venues for softball and soccer.
The proposals are sure to spark an outcry from sport clubs and associations around the city.
At last night’s council meeting, the city leaders were asked to “receive” a list of 21 recommendations contained in a sport and recreation strategy.
Cr Leon Stephens, seconded by Cr Gerry Chivell, had moved that the proposals be recommended to the council.
At the time of going to press, it was difficult to know the outcome of this recommendation by Crs Stephens and Chivell.
Sport administrators have described the recommendations as “horrendous”, but know that similar proposals have been raised in the past without taking effect.
A key issue in the increased fees is thought to be the rising cost of water which, in fact, will possibly rise by 26 percent from July 1.
The policy calls for Port Pirie Football League be charged $1000 a day for use of Memorial Oval.
Solomontown Football Club would be charged $2500 a season for the use of Globe Oval for its training sessions and Lions Football Club would be charged $2500 a season for the use of Memorial Oval for practice.
The Port Pirie Cricket Association would be charged $100 a game for the use of Memorial Oval and $60 a game at other council ovals.
On Friday nights, the Port Pirie Night Baseball League would be charged $100 a night plus lighting charges for the use of Memorial Oval.
Youngsters would also be affected under a plan for the Junior Soccer Association to be charged $5000 a season for the use of Senate Sports Park.
The list of proposals put to last night’s council meeting included:
1. That Council acknowledges the benefits of sport and recreation to its community and that it continues contributing to the provision of sports facilities in the region;
2. That Council encourages and prioritises the development of multi-
purpose facilities where appropriate, including the Crystal Brook Recreation Masterplan;
3. That Memorial Oval continues to be the major central sporting precinct and a concept plan be developed to consolidate multiple indoor and outdoor sporting activities in this area;
4. That Council seek resource sharing with schools and sports wherever feasible;
5. That Council endeavour to rationalise sporting grounds to enable open space at those areas to be reduced in size. If surplus land is sold then the funds be reinvested in improving facilities;
6. That Council charge oval users a fee that is more reflective of providing that facility, taking into account capacity to pay;
7. That minimum annual licence fees be equivalent to those under the Crown Land Management Regulations ($359 in 2011-12);
8. That the Junior Sport Policy be abolished;
9. That all sport and recreation leases be charged a fee equivalent to a residential rate (not a lease fee plus rates as originally proposed);
10. That new fees be introduced for leases and licences as they are renewed, or for the next sporting season, and that they be CPI-adjusted or reviewed annually;
11. That the Port Pirie Football League be charged $1000 per day for use of Memorial Oval;
12. That the Solomontown Football Club be charged $2500 per season for the use of Globe Oval;
13. That the Lions Football Club be charged $2,500 per season for the use of Memorial Oval.