Brisbane council offers water payments to sporting clubs
Sporting clubs across Brisbane are set to benefit from a council package aimed at subsidising water payments - but one councillor says much more needs to be done.
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A $1-MILLION dollar council package will subsidise water payments for sporting clubs struggling to reopen following the coronavirus pandemic.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced the ‘lifeline’ today, which will provide $5000 water rebates to 150 sporting clubs around Brisbane.
“So that when playing commences next month they can be ready for playing ... and clubs can get back to a normal situation,” Cr Schrinner said.
Cr Schrinner said the investment comes in response to a consultation with 350 clubs across the city.
“The feedback from clubs was that 80 per cent of them had no revenue source and that 78 per cent needed support for utilities payments,” he said.
“The State Government bulk water charge makes up around 69 per cent of the average bill ... electricity charges are a key facet as well.
“It would be great to have the State Government step in to provide additional assistance.”
Today’s announcement follows calls from community clubs and council opposition for an urgent rescue package on Sunday.
Labour’s community spokesperson Cr Kara Cook said the Lord Mayor’s announcement today was ‘simply a drop in the ocean’.
“More needs to be done,” Cr Cook said.
“These clubs have told me they need cash ... and they need that cash now.”
“This announcement today only helps one in six community organisations and it’s limited to sporting clubs, it does not help the senior citizen centres ... or community groups.”
Council opposition leader Jared Cassidy said the Council relief was neither significant, nor wide-reaching enough to properly address the issue.
“This funding will not save our community clubs from going under and is simply not good enough,” he said.
Council had previously issued a $7.9 million business relief package that waived community lease and license rent charges for more than 600 Brisbane businesses.
Cr Schrinner told The Courier-Mail today that council was ‘continuing to look at ways we can support clubs across the city’.
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