Basketball calls for fair deal

The Warragul and District Amateur Basketball Association is appealing for a fairer arrangement for its court hire, describing its current occupancy agreement through Baw Baw Shire Council and the YMCA as ‘financially restrictive’.

Currently locked into a $113,000 per annum contract for 77 hours of court use, the Association say they have been encouraged to sign a new contract which would see that figure climb to $116,000.

According to the WADABA, the Association has been told the increase is to match the Consumer Price Index, and efforts to seek an alternative arrangement through Baw Baw Shire Council have stalled.

Warragul and District Amateur Basketball Association president Danny Murnane said the current contract arrangement was a financial burden on the association.

He said he feared the high costs would drive families away from the sport, and called for council to finalise a more equitable fee structure such as a lease arrangement or fee structure similar to other sporting clubs in the shire.

“You’re looking at around $600 to play domestic basketball for a year, and if you want to play squad add another $120 on top of that,” Mr Murnane said.

“Just because basketball is played under a roof.

“To play netball it costs about $50.

“We just feel we’re paying our fair share well and truly.”

Mr Murnane said the current arrangement was financially restrictive on the association.

“We’re trying to keep fees as low as we can but financially we’re on the borderline,” he said.

“It restricts us from buying equipment and implementing things like specialised coaching courses for our coaches and clinics for the kids.

“I’ve done a bit of a phone around and we’re just disappointed when the soccer club pays no lease as long as they look after their ground.

“The netball on Burke St have seven courts and they pay $1000.

“Dusties (Warragul Industrials Football Netball Club) pay $5000, I’m assuming Warragul Gulls pay $5000 and cricket between three and four thousand for that ground that the shire maintains.”

Mr Murnane said one of the association’s clubs has been forced to train outdoors due to an additional $12,000 fee for clubs to train at the facility.

“We’ve asked if we can lease the stadium, similar to Frankston, and run our own maintenance, but we can’t do that under the YMCA contract,” he said.

“Over at Bunyip, they take $4 at the door, $2 of that goes to the club and the other $2 to Cardinia Council for maintenance, and they get their own canteen. “It’s just not a fair go. “We want help from council to find something, and we don’t want other sports groups to suffer.

“We’re definitely paying full whack.”

Mr Murnane said he understood athletes in the swimming squad were paying much less to use the facility next door.

“We’d love to have our own stadium, but we’ll never get there with so much pressure on us,” he said.

“We want to encourage kids to play all sports.

“If it came down to money wise you’d go to other sports, and it shouldn’t be like that.”

Baw Baw Shire Council director community assets David Dunston said the current occupancy agreement between WDABA, council and YMCA allowed for conducting basketball competitions, training sessions and other associated activities.

“This agreement is currently up for renewal and council is working with the WDABA to explore options through the renewal process,” he said.