HELP NEEDED FOR POOR SPORT KIDS

The debate over who should pay for the use of sports ovals is a tricky one. Many say councils should pay for the upkeep of ovals just like they do for public parks and let sporting associations run competitions to keep young people active.

Others hold the view that people should pay if they use the ovals to help cover the cost of upkeep and slow the drain on the public purse.

The issue has come to the fore this week after the Kingborough Council told sports clubs they would be hit with an hourly rate for using their local sporting grounds. The idea isn’t a new one. Plenty of councils around the country charge sporting clubs or associations for the use of the land.

Those fees are then normally broken down and passed on to players as registration fees.

Kingborough Council’s additional charges are set to come into play next year, gradually increasing year on year before reaching $15 per hour in five years. The move has deputy mayor candidate Kaspar Deane outraged.

He claims, based on current usage, clubs could be billed up to $26,000 for the year.

Hardest hit would be Kingborough Lions United FC, Taroona FC ($9000) and Summerleas Eagles Cricket Club ($6000). Mr Deane, who is also a schoolteacher, said this new fee would make sport participation less affordable and might rule out sport to people battling with the rising cost of living. It’s a very good point.

Do we want to rule out exercise and sport to kids who live in low-income families? Probably not.

Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt knows the move won’t be popular but said it was necessary to make sure council didn’t blow the budget.

She said the move would merely bring Kingborough’s outdoor sports clubs in line with indoor clubs, which already pay hourly fees to use the facilities.

That’s a good point too but how far should councils take this user pays system.

Kingborough Council now has one of the best children’s parks in Greater Hobart, do they start charging people to take their kids there?

What about dog parks or libraries should they be user pay too?

The thing is people who pay rates expect a certain amount of amenity in a town or city.

Obviously parks and libraries fall into that category although some would argue they shouldn’t.

But sporting fields, that’s a grey area. Most people want kids to be fit and healthy and enjoy the benefits of team sport but it looks like they will have to pay more for that pleasure. Surely though there should be some help for children of families that can’t stump up the cash.