Save Our Sport: Gympie council reinstates $900k in funding for sporting sector

Gympie’s council has reinstated funding for the sporting sector after a desperate plea from the community, but club chiefs have warned this is just a starting point in fixing a code-wide crisis.

Gympie’s council has reinstated $900,000 in funding for Gympie sport in the 2022-2023 budget.

It comes after $1 million in council funding to expand the Gympie sporting sector was cut in April; causing an uproar within the Gympie sport community.

The news came at a time when sporting clubs across the region were still recovering from the record-breaking February flood, which left several organisations without playing fields and clubhouses.

Some were forced to share facilities, which in turn impacted training and game timetables.

The Gympie Times took this up on behalf of the community, and kickstarted a campaign called Save Our Sport to have the funding reinstated and for leaders from all levels of government to step in.

The Gympie Times – SOS: Save Our Sport.

On Thursday, the first stage happened but sports leaders have warned the win won’t be enough if it’s not expanded on.

Gympie athlete and PE teacher Daniel Green, who was the first to announce the news of the funding being cut earlier this year, said on Thursday it was “good to know” the council had listened to the community’s concerns.

However, he was sceptical of how effective the money would be in purchasing land to expand the sector, given the rising cost of real estate.

“Personally, $900,000 is not going to buy an acre block these days … It doesn't really sound like there’s a plan to buy more land,” he said.

“There’s no ovals that can be built with that.

“I think they need to look into grants to push for funding through state and federal (governments).”

Daniel Green (pictured left with Wade Flikweert) said he was sceptical on how effective the money would be purchasing land to expand the sector, given the rising cost of real estate. Photo: Jorina Maureschat.

If the money was not going to be put towards new land, he hoped the next top priority would be repairing the damaged facilities the region already had.

“If this is the budget they have … I do think priorities should be the (Albert Park) grand stand,” he said.

“I know netball needs a new court … but it’s quite embarrassing having orange markers as the fence around the grand stand.”

Additionally, Mr Green said he hoped use of the funding would come from joint effort communications between sporting officials and the council.

“It would be nice to know where the money does go … but if we don’t know where it’s going, there is going to be more confusion and frustration.”

Gympie Netball Association president Colleen Miller agreed.

Colleen Miller, President of Gympie Netball, said the fact the funding had been reinstated was “wonderful”.

“The whole idea of identifying potential sporting sites is something we have been harping on about for years … but at the end of the day if they’re not consulting with the sporting associations, I’m not sure what that money will be used for,” she said.

But, the fact the money had been reinstated at all was a “wonderful” development.

“I think the $900,000 is a good starting point,” she said.

Save Our Sport Campaign so far:

Gympie Times Campaign: Save Our Sport

Touch teams to start season from tent amid flood-hit club closure

Watch: Rogue BMX canteen set sail on flood waters

SOS: ‘We can only fix what’s happening in the future’

‘Frustration’ as 380 junior league players cope with overcrowding

‘Constrained’: Cancelled games, kids miss out in basketball battle

‘Outdated’ football facilities hit with $20k in flood damages

Watch: Council’s $1m sports funding cut a ‘kick in the guts’

Originally published as Save Our Sport: Gympie council reinstates $900k in funding for sporting sector