Ice skaters fume over closure of Glenorchy Ice Rink
Ice skaters have labelled the new sports minister a “cheapskate” for not stumping up the cash for an ice rink in Tasmania.
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Ice skaters have labelled the new sports minister a “cheapskate” for not stumping up the cash for an ice rink in Tasmania.
On Saturday protesters rallied outside the Glenorchy Ice Rink, which will be closing down permanently next month.
It is the only ice rink in all of Tasmania, and when it closes it will take the entire ice sports scene with it.
Ice Sports Tasmania president Anna Holliday said they wanted the government to fund a temporary ice rink while they work on plans for a permanent, Olympic-sized one.
Ms Holliday said they’d spent the last two years in talks with the government, but have so far failed to extract any concrete funding commitment.
However Ms Holliday said they had identified several venues in Southern Tasmania that could work, provided the government came through with the money.
“With the closure of this fink on the 21st of May there are hundreds of athletes that are going to be left without a facility to play their sport,” Ms Holliday said.
“Some of our elite athletes have already started travelling to the mainland and we’re at risk of losing those athletes to moving interstate.
“We want to keep them here at home and we want to be able to celebrate them, stand beside them, and share our support.”
Labor MP Josh Willie said this was a chance for Nic Street, as the new sports minister, to step up to the plate.
With the state budget coming up, Mr Willie said now was the best time to secure the future of ice skating in Tasmania.
We’re talking about a small amount of money to keep hundreds of athletes in the support they love and allow them to continue their dreams,” Mr Willie said.
“Minister Street said he’s all about grassroots support when he took over the ministry, well here’s his opportunity to prove it.”
Mr Street said he had met with Ice Sports Tasmania several times over the past month to discuss options and try and find a solution.
Meanwhile he said Mr Willie had done nothing for ice sports, other than issue “pathetic” media releases in an effort to raise his profile ahead of the Legislative Council elections.
“Desperate for headlines because he is up for re-election, Josh Willie’s rank political opportunism has done absolutely nothing to support ice sports.
“I will remain in contact with Ice Sports Tasmania as they work to secure the future of their sports in Tasmania and assist wherever possible.”
kenji.sato@news.com.au
Tasmania loses its only ice rink after sale to mystery buyer
The state’s only ice skating rink will be repurposed after being sold to a mystery buyer, prompting fears that ice sports could become a thing of the past in Tasmania.
After 42 years in operation, the Kaitinis family has sold the Glenorchy Ice Skating Rink, with sisters Beverley and Janina Kaitinis looking to retire.
Tasmania is the only state in the country without a full-sized ice rink and now it will have no rink at all.
The Mercury understands the new owner plans to establish an art gallery at the site.
Manager Janina Kaitinis said it was a bittersweet feeling to have sold the place that had been such a big part of her and her family’s lives.
“It’s surreal,” she said.
“This was purpose-built by my family. Now we’re retiring.
“There’s nobody in the family that really wants to continue running (the ice rink).”
A group called Ice Sports Tasmania (IST) formed in February in an attempt to either preserve the ice rink or alternatively build a new full-sized training facility.
IST president Anna Holliday said the sale had “shattered” the dreams of children and adult competitors alike.
“In the short-term, what it means is that there is no option for our sports to continue,” she said.
The Glenorchy Ice Skating Rink has primarily been used for recreational skating, competitive figure skating and ice hockey.
Ms Holliday said IST had formed a relationship with an interstate investor group who had committed to buy the rink on the condition that the state government agreed in-principle to eventually build an Olympic-sized ice rink, with the investor group to pay 60 per cent of the costs.
“The government said no to that opportunity last week and cited their instability due to the resignation of their Premier (Peter Gutwein),” Ms Holliday said.
Ms Kaitinis said she would have liked to have seen IST purchase the rink with the assistance of the state government and the Glenorchy City Council.
“I feel bad for all the people that are invested in skating – all the kids,” she said.
Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas said the council would “continue to support (IST) in their quest to find a new home, as much as possible”.
Sport and Recreation Minister Nic Street said it wouldn’t have been “appropriate” for the state government to “interfere” in a private sale process.
“I will remain in contact with (IST) as they work to secure the future of their sports in Tasmania and assist wherever possible,” he said.
The rink closes for good on May 22.
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