$25,000 grant saves struggling footy club from its water woes
A team effort has helped save a regional football club at risk of folding because of lack of water.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A TEAM effort has helped save a regional football club at risk of folding because of lack of water.
Funds have flowed to Dodges Ferry Football Club after the State Government, TasWater, AFL Tasmania and Sorell Council agreed to chip in to help rescue the club.
The Sharks will receive $25,000 in water to irrigate their home ground to ensure it is prepared for this year’s season.
TasWater will also install temporary tanks to store water.
The announcement comes after the Sunday Tasmanian highlighted the club’s plight at the weekend.
SHARKS OUT OF WATER AS BIG DRY BITES HARD
Club officials were preparing for the worst after months of dry weather and limited water supply withered their ground to brown, dead grass, with some sections reduced to just dirt.
But a meeting with Prosser MLC Jane Howlett on Monday led to a short-term solution to save the 2019 season.
The Government will contribute $10,000, with the remaining organisations chipping in $5000 each.
“This is a great outcome for the local community,” Ms Howlett said.
She said all parties would continue to work together on a long-term solution for the ground.
MORE NEWS:
BUSHFIRE COUNT EXPECTED TO KEEP RISING
PUBS AND CLUBS ALREADY FACE LOCKOUT CONDITIONS
TWO CHARGED OVER SUBURBAN SHOOTING
There is no mains water supply in Dodges Ferry and the oval depended on tanks at the primary school next door.
Water to fill those tanks had previously been sourced from a bore, but that is now running dry and is too salty to grow grass.
The council then bought truckloads of water to service the oval, but that proved too expensive to maintain.
Committee member in charge of the ground, Phil Hammer, said the funding meant everything.
“It was a matter of shutting the door if we didn’t find access to water,” he said.
“This community thrives on this football club.”
The Sharks’ first home game is scheduled for April 6.
Club officials are planning further meetings with the Government, council and AFL Tasmania in coming weeks to sort out a long-term solution, which they hope would see the South-East Irrigation Scheme extended to the primary school.
The Southern Football League has also offered to assist the club with oval maintenance and preparation ahead of the first game of the year.
What could thwart Kangaroo Bay Hotel, even if it is approved
The Kangaroo Bay Hotel has been declared a ‘major project’, but there’s a glaring complication which could arise, even if it’s approved, as both parties claim ownership of the waterfront land.
Lambie MP maintains budget rage with rare move
Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner has maintained his one-man opposition to the state budget in a rare move as it passed through the House of Assembly.