Council debates water fund for non-profit clubs
SUNSHINE Coast Council is on the verge of introducing a special fund to subsidise mounting water and sewerage bills left unpaid by non-profit community groups and sporting clubs.
It is proposing a fund of a maximum of $1 million dollars, which would be administered by CEO John Knaggs, from which council would pay 70% of the bills.
The issues of clubs struggling to pay their bills surfaced after the establishment in 2010 of UnityWater, which took over water billing but is not mandated to offer discounts or grants to organisations.
The issue came to a head in September, with some 40 sporting clubs meeting to discuss the lack of financial support for their predicament from council.
Councillors debated whether the funding should be available to all sporting clubs, including those surf clubs who generated funds through poker machines, and whether figure proposed was high enough.
"With all the clubs that will have their hands out, will the million dollars be enough?" asked Division 8's Cr Jason O'Pray.
It was also suggested that the 70% contribution may neeed to be reduced.
The matter has been deferred to a future meeting.
