Corowa-Rutherglen: Federation Council agrees to provide additional temporary facilities

Corowa-Rutherglen has been given a huge operational guarantee if it can return to the O&M league next season.

Corowa-Rutherglen has been given a guarantee it will have temporary change rooms and other facilities to use if it can return to the Ovens and Murray league next season.

Facilities used by the sporting club were extensively damaged in a major flood late last year, which was one of the factors that contributed to three football team and senior netball sides being put into recess this season.

Federation Council, which owns the club’s home ground, met on Tuesday and agreed to keep five temporary facilities already on site in a move that has already cost ratepayers more than $80,000.

Corowa-Rutherglen football ground was flooded in 2016 and last year.

But more will be provided by council “within budget constraints”.

The cost of relocating a canteen building from the town’s saleyards to John Foord Oval will be $10,000 with a further $30,000 needed for additional hired facilities and the re-establishment of away-team changerooms.

“Our primary aim is to give the Corowa-Rutherglen Football-Netball Club the best opportunity to not only put a team on the ground and be in the competition next year, but ensure when they are there, it is going to be a usable facility,” deputy mayor Shaun Whitechurch said.

Cr Andrew Kennedy said temporary facilities would be required for at least two more years.

“It is going to take 12 months to build something that is going to cost between $6 million and $7 million,” he said.

Corowa-Rutherglen president Graham Hosier said the club presently “requires forward momentum, of which a response on our facilities dilemma for 2024 would provide”.

“It would help us provide some stability for our juniors moving into next year and also for our current discussions with potential recruits of which we are at a critical discussion stage with this month particularly,” he said.

Corowa-Rutherglen's flooded change rooms. Picture: Supplied

Corowa-Rutherglen still has not announced any recruits for next year or former players who will return to the club.

The O&M has set a mid-October deadline for confirmation of its return to enable a draw for next season to be finalised.

The league has also made a commitment of up to $10,000 to assist with the refurbishment or replacement of any club-owned equipment damaged in the floods.

Corowa-Rutherglen has been given more to spend on players and additional player points.