By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) discussed a request for assistance maintaining the Killarney Rec Club facilities at yesterday’s Connecting with Council meeting in Leyburn.
SDRC reportedly received a request from the club on 6 October.
SDRC staff members have liaised with the Killarney Rec Club to find out what the club needs to do in order to maintain their facilities and have provided options regarding what SDRC may be able to help with.
The club reportedly has 35 acres of land to maintain.
SDRC CEO Dave Burges stated that they “may not have an appetite to do that” amount of land.
Mayor Pennisi stated that the club may just need new equipment.
Councillor Ross Bartley has since backed this up, stating that the club normally maintains their own facilities however due to Covid-19 have not had the same income that allows them to maintain their equipment for this purpose.
He stated he’s sure an economical solution can be reached, perhaps through using contractors.
In the meeting yesterday, Councillor Cynthia McDonald requested clarification around the process for getting the figures from clubs, and whether clubs provided those figures themselves.
The CEO clarified that for both Killarney Rec Club and the Stanthorpe Sports Association, SDRC obtained those figures themselves through conversations with the clubs.
Councillor Marco Gliori asked if any potential maintenance at Killarney Rec Club was something the newly employed parks and gardens staff would do.
The CEO stated that staff members “have their work cut out” already.
Councillor JoMcNally questioned whether rate rises would come into this, as it had previously been discussed in the meeting that if Leyburn wanted extra maintenance this may affect their rates.
Mayor Pennisi clarified the meeting was just an information session and they were looking at what information councillors feel they need in order to make a decision.
The CEO then provided estimates of what maintenance may look like at Killarney Rec Club.
He stated the highest costs they had calculated were approximately $143,000, while for a lower level of service it may cost approximately $79,000.
Councillor Andrew Gale requested to know what SDRC currently does for the club, while Councillor Cynthia McNally stated she would like to compare figures for Stanthorpe Sports Association with this “so we show the difference in what we’re providing”.
The CEO stated she should “be careful what you try to compare” as SDRC does not mow other golf clubs in the region.
Councillor McDonald responded that SDRC does not provide assistance to any other cricket clubs either.
Councillor Stephen Tancred left the room during the meeting, citing the conflict of interest that removed him from the room last month during discussions over maintenance at Stanthorpe Sports Association.
SDRC Mayor Vic Pennisi stated that as it was just discussion and no voting would occur he could remain in the room, but Councillor Tancred decided to stay outside.
Councillor Tancred stated later that he has an outstanding conflict, and didn’t want to be present if Councillors started to discuss Stanthorpe Sporting Association’s lease.
He said the way the conflict is set up, it still applies to meetings between Ordinary Council Meetings.
He said that in the current climate, he’s just trying to do the right thing.
The Killarney Rec Club did not respond to a request for comment.
