New sports projects awaiting a strategy

Kiama’s overarching sports body has welcomed the installation of a large amenities block and new cricket pitch at the Bombo Hill Reserve on Riverside Drive, while expressing concerns about the limbo new projects are in while Council’s first Open Spaces and Recreation Strategy is developed.

“Although Kiama Council has well known problems with its finances, it is still trying to upgrade the local sporting facilities as best it can,” says John Dawson, Secretary of the Kiama District Sports Association.

“Bombo has not been used to its full potential for many years, mainly due to the lack of amenities and the irregular cricket wicket configuration [three wickets were removed and a new one installed].

“It will now be better used by Kiama Oztag and Kiama Cricket for competition games, as well as Kiama Junior Football and Kiama Rugby Union for training.”

While commitment to new investment in other sporting fields and playgrounds awaits the production of Council’s Open Spaces and Recreation Strategy, which was due last December, the Council team continues to roll out work already in the pipeline.

The Strategy’s development now involves an extended community consultation phase ending in mid-February (see feedback sessions below).

Mayor Neil Reilly says, “Given the sheer number and variety of our parks and playgrounds, which hold different levels of importance for different people, we’ve ramped up our consultation.

“We’re seeking the thoughts of those in our community who use our parks and playgrounds, as well as the advice of those at Council who manage them.”

John’s concern is that in waiting for the Strategy to be completed, there currently aren’t any further ‘shovel ready’ sports ground projects in place to take advantage of any sporting grants that will become available this year.

The work at Bombo Hill was done using a grant Kiama Council applied for quite some time ago. This grant will also pay for a smaller amenities block at Chapman Reserve and to refurbish amenity blocks at James Oates Reserve and Gainsborough Oval.

“These projects will prove very important for the users of these fields. The ameni- ties block at Chapman will be used by not only the lady softballers during the winter months but also the junior AFL players and supporters during winter, junior cricketers and supporters during summer and the many casual walkers who use the costal walking track from Surf Beach to Kendalls Beach,” John says.

Gainsborough Oval, which was flooded due to heavy rains, clogged drains and the fact that it is built on a retention basin, has now dried out and Kiama Council workers have started installing new drainage.

“With the support of the Kiama District Sports Association, Kiama Council applied to the State Government through its Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund for a grant to pay for this work to clear the drains and to replace the cricket wicket,” John says.

However, once the drainage is improved and amenities block refurbished at Gainsborough Oval, money will have to be found for lighting at the field so it can be utilised to its full potential, says John. This cannot be applied for until the Strategy is completed.

“It is presently used by Kiama Oztag, along with Bombo and Gainsborough Chase Reserve, for its ever-growing competition during the summer months.

“Once the lights are upgraded, night Oztag and Cricket games could be played, and it would prove a welcome addition to the limited number of fields with lights for winter training.”

Given there is still a lot to be improved across the LGA, John welcomes the Strategy as a way of prioritising the projects in the future.

“Even though there are plans in progress to improve the amenities at Gerry Emery Oval in Gerringong, there is a much more crucial need to improve the amenities at the Kiama Sports Complex [in Havilah Place],” he says, noting that the users of this

Complex have been asked to wait patiently for Kiama Council to complete the Strategic Plan for outdoor recreation spaces and also a master plan for the Sports Complex precinct before anything can be done.

“Once these are endorsed by Kiama Council and concept designs plans are completed, it is hoped that the overused and aging amenities at the Complex can be replaced by facilities that will justify its place as the premier venue for sport in Kiama.”

The Strategy will cover all of the LGA’s sporting facilities, play facilities, parks and open spaces.

The following gives the various different methods to express your opinions about what is needed.

Pop-up consultation sessions:

South Werri Reserve

Monday 6 February 10-11am and 2.30-3.30pm Coronation Park, Kiama

Tuesday 7 February 10-11am and 2.30-3.30pm

James Oates Reserve, Minnamurra

Thursday 9 February 10-11am and 2.30-3.30pm Reid Park, Jamberoo

Friday 10 February 10-11am and 2.30-3.30pm

Community feedback sessions (registration required):

The Pavilion Kiama

Wednesday 8 February 10.30-11.30am and

Thursday 9 February 5.30-6.30pm). Register via the Your Say page of www.kiama.nsw.gov.au

Online survey or written submission: Closes 19 February.

Links at the Your Say page.

by Perrie Croshaw

FROM THE EDITOR Paper quality issues

Many people have commented to us about our paper quality, so I thought more of you would be wondering.

The reduction in quality down to the paper in this issue isn’t part of a cost saving exercise – there simply isn’t any white paper being produced in Australia at the moment.

Since the start, we had been using paper made in Victoria, but production has been suspended there indefinately due to a lack of timber supply.

This has been caused by the Supreme Court finding that VicForest broke the law by failing to adequately protect the yellow-bellied glider and the endangered greater gliders. Environmentalists say the greater gliders have gone from common to endanged in six years.

Our printer Spotpress, which prints most of the independent newspapers in NSW, is currently trying to obtain supply from overseas, but no timeframe has yet been established.

Of course the bigger issue is whether we should continue printing at all, given our ability to distribute news more efficiently and comprehensively on The Bugle App and the environmental and benefits of not using paper.

However. we are also aware of research done by RMIT and others that shows many in the community still prefer to read their local paper in print.

That is why we will continue to print our paper, as well as reporting online. You choose!