Salisbury junior sports clubs handed $100,000 rent relief to help boost membership
JUNIOR sports clubs in Salisbury will have their rents cut in half, under a new council policy to boost the number of children playing sport.
SPORTS clubs in Salisbury will save thousands of dollars a year in rents, under a new Salisbury Council policy.
All junior clubs will get a 50 per cent discounts on council rents from next month.
The council’s total revenue from sporting club leases will drop by about $100,000 a year.
The changes do away with charging clubs rent based largely on the value of past upgrades to clubrooms.
The policy also rewards clubs which have contributed to upgrades of council buildings.
The reductions will be partially offset by charging clubs with pokie machines 25 per cent more in rents.
Mayor Gillian Aldridge said the fees would be capped for five years to provide clubs certainty and allow them to adjust.
Pooraka Netball Club president Rodney Pavlovich said his club would pay about $470 a year to lease courts at Lindblom Reserve, down from $924.
He said it would help attract more players to the club, which has 70 members.
“Being a non-for-profit club, it is hard to cover costs,” Mr Pavlovich said.
“With the savings we will be able to give the best possible service for the least amount of costs.”
Salisbury Football Club treasurer Steven Ireland said his club was excited about the changes as it could spend more on junior development.
“If it works how I understand it does, then it will work really well for clubs,” Mr Ireland said.
“Clubs battle to cover costs as it is so it all helps.”
Para Hills Football Club president Ben Foster said cheaper rent would help his club buy jumpers, water bottles and balls.
“We dropped our registration fees last year to try and drive junior participation, which meant we were quite tight where money was concerned,” Mr Foster said.
“We weren’t able to buy much equipment so any savings will benefit us.”
Salisbury United Soccer Club secretary Peter Lockett was not convinced clubs would save in the long run but still backed the changes.
“The argument is base rates go down and you save,” Mr Lockett said.
“It may save clubs money but I’m not sure the savings will be as much as people think.
“But it will definitely change the landscape … and money you save will be able to be put back into the clubs.”
Cr Chad Buchanan said the changes would help clubs reduce costs to members.
“The changes will make a substantial reduction to the costs clubs bear, which is going to create opportunity to save money,” Cr Buchanan said.
“Those resources can then be put back into the club to make it more sustainable.”