Mayoral candidate Ashley Robinson slams Sunshine Coast Council over local sports club lease restrictions

Sunshine Coast Council has refused to comment after a mayoral candidate called on them to extend local sporting club leases – saying it’s virtually impossible for clubs to have a hand in the Olympics the way things are.

Sunshine Coast mayoral candidate Ashley Robinson at the Buderim Wanderers Football Club. Picture: Patrick Woods, Facebook.

An avid sportsman and mayoral candidate has slammed the Sunshine Coast Council and called on them to extend local sporting club leases – saying it’s virtually impossible for clubs to have a hand in the Olympics, ensure stability, and establish a legacy.

Ashley Robinson has called on the Sunshine Coast Council to overhaul its policy of granting sporting clubs only short leases over their venues.

The Sunshine Coast council currently owns 20 sporting facilities which are managed by 82 separate community clubs across the region.

Mr Robinson, OAM, said clubs like the Buderim Wanderers Football Club only had a one-year lease over its Ballinger Road premises, despite having maintained, developed and played at the venue for decades.

“How can clubs have the certainty to even sign a player on a two-year contract, let alone invest in facilities?” he said.

“When these guys are trying to get longevity, are trying to engage private enterprises to help them but they can only get one-year tenure, I find it bizarre.

“At the moment in Brisbane where they’re looking to cut funding and we’re all talking about legacy’s for the Olympics, well these guys actually want to do something, want to contribute to the Olympics and want a legacy out of it but only have a one-year tenure.

Sunshine Coast mayor candidate Ashley Robinson. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“If I was to be elected mayor, that’d be one of the first things we look at to make sure clubs like this one, with the history they’ve got, has a long-term lease.”

With the 2032 Olympic Games on the horizon, Mr Robinson said he believed the Sunshine Coast had so much to gain.

“Imagine for the Olympics if they could bring world class football teams here for training camps and fan days and whatever else, imagine what that would do for the economy of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

“That makes this a perfect opportunity to lengthen their lease and get private enterprise which takes the pressure off the council and sounds like a win-win to me.”

Mr Robinson said it was important for the council and sporting clubs to be on the same page.

“Sport and charity are a part of the fabric on the Sunshine Coast and I do feel for the council because there’s obviously some financial stress, but why don’t you embrace all the expertise available,” he said.

“These guys and girls know more about football than I do, know more about it than council does, so why aren’t we embracing the community to help us move forward so we’re all rowing the boat in the same direction.”

Mr Robinson said now was the time for other local clubs in the same or similar situations to speak up.

“They know where opportunity sits in the big picture and how to maximise the legacy benefit of the Games through collaboration with business which can deliver the investment the council can’t afford,” he said.

“Certainty over lease arrangement is essential for clubs to be freed up to maximise opportunities and to develop long-term growth and financial sustainability.”

Buderim Wanderers Football Club president Glenn Duncan said the club needed more certainty moving forward.

“I don’t think the issue is with council in general, I think the issue is certainty over what’s going to happen and what we need to be prepared for in the next eight years,” he said.

“We’ve worked really hard on a business plan and believe we have bipartisan support so moving forward we just need certainty so that we can start planning ahead to help council, developers and do what the region needs.”

Mr Duncan said the club currently had more than 350 players on their waiting list.

“We need infrastructure now because it’s not good enough that we’re borrowing places like the cricket fields and things like that,” he said.

Wanderers Football Club President Glenn Duncan. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“The council has a plan to develop the Sunshine Coast Stadium and introduce a new indoor stadium which is very good and I think it’s great, but I’m asking and I’m pleading with all of the mayoral candidates what legacy will it leave.

“What legacy will it leave me? My junior boys and girls in the biggest game in Australia and what can we do to attract world wide teams and world wide business?

“My job, with my 1500 plus members and my 80 plus teams, is to get the infrastructure that we need here because that’s very important for the Sunshine Coast moving forward.”

When asked why Sunshine Coast Council would not increase local sport club leases, a spokesman said “Council does not comment on election candidates’ statements.”