By Emily-Rose Toohey
Warwick Gymnastics Club has been impacted by flooding events on countless occasions over the past few years and has requested financial assistance from council to ensure its viability.
A letter was submitted to Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) on 3 June, which said the club had suffered significant financial loss attributed to flooding.
“While the gym is wet and drying out, classes are cancelled and fees refunded back to parents – the club continues to pay staff during this time,” the letter said.
Alongside a competition that was cancelled in November 2021, the letter said that these setbacks negatively affected the club’s financial stability.
Warwick Gymnastics Club president Coby Walker mirrored the letter’s statements and said despite the organisation not looking at bankruptcy, they are by no means financially stable.
“Residual funding in the bank is low,” Coby said.
When the matter was discussed at yesterday’s council meeting, Cr Andrew Gale said he had questions regarding the club’s insurance status, to which SDRC CEO Dave Burges responded.
“The club’s not claimed on insurance, it is unclear why they wouldn’t do that,” Mr Burges said.
Cr Stephen Tancred also said he was perplexed why the club had not made an insurance claim.
“I’m disinclined to offer any funds at this stage until we can have some clarity about their insurance and potential grants and have some more specific financial information from them,” Cr Tancred said.
However, Coby said they made a conscious decision to not claim insurance.
“We didn’t think it was their (the insurers) fault or problem because the flooding was caused by the pipe, we didn’t want to impact on ratepayers,” he said.
“The insurance company would simply provide a small injection of funds due to cash losses we’ve had, which has minimal impact.”
The aforementioned pipe outside the club was installed by council and Coby has previously said he believed this increased flood damage to the facility.
“They (council) believe that we asked for the pipe and we didn’t,” he said.
However, Mr Burges said there are contrary views on who was responsible that differ between each party.
“The history of this is documented; it’s patchy, it’s long, and it goes back a long way,” he said.
As a result, Cr Marco Gliori suggested the item be discussed in confidential but Mr Burges said this was not necessary.
“There is no legal matter afoot – there’s not even talk of that,” he said.
Nonetheless, Coby said he was happy that SDRC is working with the club to help them move to a more feasible location.
“We need the assistance now, we needed it back in February, but it’s taking forever,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we can see that they’re frustrated and they can see that we’re frustrated.”
As per council’s report, the club formally requested $50,000 of assistance on 30 May, which followed a meeting with Mr Burges and SDRC Mayor Vic Pennisi.
“We met with representatives from the club to get more clarity around some of the issues,” Mr Burges said.
“The two main items were potential financial support for the club and the potential for a new site they have aspirations to relocate to.”
However, in terms of granting this funding at the present, SDRC councillors voted to defer the motion until next council meeting, as initially suggested by Cr Sheryl Windle.
“I think it’s wise to gather more information and get answers to our questions,” Cr Windle said.
On 2 February, the club outlined their damages and losses at a Council Information Session regarding drainage and flooding issues.
At the time, this included $140,000 for rings, bars, and beam floor matting, $65,000 for pit foam and bases, $30,000 for landing/crash mats, and future losses from corrosion, delamination, mould, and rot.
Despite council’s decision yesterday to further consider the $50,000 funding request, Cr Andrew Gale said he was confident that Warwick Gymnastics Club was a fantastic organisation.
“I wish to support them in any way,” Cr Gale said.
“We just need more information before spending the community’s money on replacement gear that isn’t endurable financially.”
Furthermore, Cr Pennisi said speaking from a personal position, providing funding for the club should be about the kids involved.
“It’s critically important that we give our youth the opportunity to blossom in their preferred sports code,” he said.
Coby echoed the Mayor’s sentiments and said as the only gymnastics club in the region, community members would be devastated if it closed.
“We have around 320 members from 18 months to 80 years old, and 10 employees,” he said.
“It would be especially tough for those kids who’ve worked so hard their entire sporting life and have trained there for years and years.”
However, Coby said it would not just be club members who suffered as he considered the club more of a community group.
“It would be the schools we go to and all the voluntary work will be gone as well,” he said.
For instance, Coby said the club recently helped out with the water stations at this year’s Pentathrun.
“We help out and provide our services and I think closing down would be a devastating loss,” he said.
