Sport Central Coast Group v Central Coast Sports Council in battle for control
ON one side of the contest is the up and coming regional sports group backed by the State Government, and on the other the local sports council that has been advocating for local grassroots sport for 62 years.
Central Coast
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A TURF war could be brewing over who will control the future of sport on the Central Coast.
On one side is the newly formed State Government backed Sport Central Coast Group which wants to be the “one voice” representing the entire region on all sports issues.
On the other is the Central Coast Sports Council which has been representing local grassroots sport for 62 years and feels it is being sidelined in plans for the regional body.
And between them is Central Coast Council who this week took a bet each way — on one hand acknowledging the existence of Sport Central Coast Group as the leader, and on the other requesting that the long-running sports council be given a permanent seat on the board of the new group.
A report tabled at Monday night’s council meeting said that before the amalgamation of the former Gosford and Wyong councils a variety of sports associations advocated on sports issues — with no over arching organisation.
It said that during 2017 the NSW Office of Sport had begun developing a Central Coast regional strategy for sport and recreation which is due to be released soon after “extensive consultation”.
A key step in the plan was the formation of a single representative group that would act as “the voice of sport”.
Among its functions would be encouraging collaboration between sporting codes, sharing of knowledge and resources, sports promotion and the identification of regional sporting opportunities and needs.
The report said Sports Central Coast Group would be run by a board which would have three permanent members: The NSW office of Sport, The Central Coast Academy of Sport and Central Coast Council. Seven other board members would be appointed on merit.
Central Coast Sports Council chairman Riley Sohier addressed this week’s meeting of Central Coast Council stating that the group had been advocating for grassroots sports groups since 1956.
He said the sports council provided representation for scores of local organisations and said he doubted the new regional body would be able to represent all sports.
He said grassroots clubs would not be the focus under the “one voice” plan and said the sports council should be granted a permanent seat on the board.
On the opposing team was Central Coast Academy of Sport managing director Ian Robilliard who said Sport Central Coast Group would ensure a co-ordinated approach to sport.
”We need a single voice to work to achieve the aims of the regional sports plan,” Mr Robilliard said.
“This is about what’s best for the whole Central Coast — the idea is to attract the very best people to the board — which might include members of the sports council,” he said.
NSW Office of Sport co-ordinator on the Central Coast, Mard Love, also spoke at the meeting saying that the new group would be “a huge leap forward” bringing many benefits to the region.
“We believe this organisation will kick many goals into the future,” she said.
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