When sports facilities are built they are constructed from rates collected by councils.
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This contribution comes from all ratepayers, whether they have children or not.
Those ratepayers who don’t have children and those who have children who do not play sport still contribute the portion of rates towards the upkeep of these facilities.
So at this point we are all on a level playing field in respect to having such wonderful facilities.
But then the scales begin to weigh to one side – those who use the facilities are now the cause of wear and tear of such facilities, which apparently everyone who is a ratepayer must continue to maintain at all times and pay insurances, etc.
The City of Greater Bendigo is proposing a $1 charge per child when playing a club sport on these facilities.
My understanding is that these small contributions will help those users to continue to have available to them reasonably well-kept facilities.
This charge should also be introduced to those who play senior sports as well. Keep in mind that some people do not pay rates but their children do use these facilities.
Parents say they can not afford the user-pay system, some say they are only children. The clubs say they cannot afford to pay for the children.
I go to watch under 17-year-olds who are actually juniors, and each time have been asked to pay $10 per person to enter and watch the game, after which I leave, as do many others.
Maybe this $10 should be charged to all parents of junior players and the funds raised paid to the council for the upkeep of the facilities.
Of course, this would not happen – no, we will just charge parents and grandparents in the under-17s as it will go unnoticed, and we will put this into our club coffers. Stop complaining and start paying for the use of the facilities.
You’re lucky to have them.
?Viv Rouse,
Epsom