Yarra Council’s withdraws move to implement a massive fee hike could cripple local clubs

Yarra Council has withdrawn its plan to increase fees for struggling local sporting clubs after community outrage.

A controversial council proposal to hike fees for locals clubs to use their sporting grounds has been sent back to the drawing board.

Yarra Council has withdrawn the issue, which sparked a backlash from inner-city clubs, and will develop a new report to be handed down in coming weeks.

It comes after an outpouring of support for local clubs and demand from the community for further consultation.

Socialist councillor Stephen Jolly, who campaigned against the proposal, said it was a major win for the community.

“Thousands of kids play sports in Yarra,” he said.

“We’ve never had that many emails of complaint then we have had over this.

“They (the council) had no choice. They were in line for a battering from the community tonight.”

Fitzroy Football Club was among many sporting organisations that were told late on Friday about a City of Yarra plan to change the way they are billed.

Clubs fearing for their financial future worried the price increases would be impossible to meet and could not be offset with sponsorship funds for teams that barely break even.

A report prepared by the council detailed massive increases above the 2019 fees.

Under the scheme, a club like Fitzroy could be asked to pay more than $17,380 a year, nearly three times as much as before.

Fitzroy Captains Cass Blake and Julian Turner are now concerned for their club's future. Picture: Sarah Matray

Other clubs could be asked to pay as much as $40,000 — including one that pays just $4000 now — based on the number of facilities they currently hire and the amount of time they are used.

If implemented, they would be in danger of folding, using the grounds less or be forced to find new ways to raise money.

Stressed local sporting clubs held crisis talks all weekend amid fears the new fees could be introduced as early as July 1.

Fitzroy Football Club president Joan Eddy said the changes had come as a shock and could reduce the number of teams in the municipality.

“Clubs will not survive this,” she said. “It just seems really foolish and not in the true spirit of consultation for what is essentially a not for profit.

“Very few community sporting clubs would have any sort of effective working profit.

“They are run by volunteers and our players actually have to pay to play.”

Ms Eddy said most players were under 24 and were often students or working part-time.

Julian Turner, captain of Fitzroy’s senior men’s team, said demand to watch and play at local sporting clubs had never been higher but increased fees would make it harder for people to join.

“It only increases the issue of people who aren’t as wealthy being able to play community sport,” he said.