Council supports sport, rec clubs with new leases

The Townsville City Council is supporting a greater range of recreational and lifestyle opportunities for the community by facilitating homes for a number of new local clubs.

Council’s Sports, Recreation and Parks Committee today endorsed a Community Development report recommending approval of formal five year agreements with four local clubs to use public areas in the city.

The proposed arrangements include:

 A licence to occupy on the Strand behind the Tobruk Pool to the NQ Phoenix Dragon Boat Club;

 Granting a licence to occupy to both the Bluewater Trail Blazers and the Townsville Working Equitation at Bluewater Park; and

 A licence to occupy to Rowes Bay Archery Club to use a portion of Philp Park in Railway Estate

Committee chairman Cr Pat Ernst said providing the clubs with a home base was important in encouraging greater community participation in recreational activities in the city.

"Our sporting, recreational and social clubs are an important part of our community and lifestyle, and in many cases they’re a great fit with our parks and public areas," Cr Ernst said.

"One of the most important factors for the success of community group is having tenure over a place where they can base their activities and the council works closely with them to find a suitable location.

"Providing the security of tenure enables our clubs to apply for funding to build sport and recreation infrastructure and in turn supports a greater choice of healthy activities for the well-being of our residents."

The committee also supported a recommendation to issue an extended lease to the Townsville Kennel Association over a parcel of land at Wordsworth Park at Woodstock and a licence to occupy to Wanderers Cricket Club at Gill Park, for a period of five years.

Today’s committee recommendations will be considered for adoption at the full council meeting on October 27.