AS IT bids for the NSW Touch Football state cups, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) is facing frustration from local clubs who don’t need convincing to play on its grounds.
Currently, winter sports teams cannot access council-managed fields like the Regional Stadium for pre-season training until March 23.
For the Port Macquarie Sharks, the changeover date is just weeks before the start of the Group 3 rugby league season.
Other clubs in the competition are already training on their home grounds, while the Sharks train at MacKillop Senior College.
The club isn’t the only one to complain to Council about the date of the seasonal changeover, prompting Mayor Adam Roberts to “call for calm”
In a statement he said, “Our Local Government Area has strong participation across many sports, and with a finite number of fields and with increasing demand, facilities need to be managed carefully between the completion of summer and start of winter competitions, to ensure fair access and safe playing conditions for all users.
“While we love to see so many enthusiastic local sporting clubs eager to pursue their winter pre-season plans nice and early, Council must allocate an appropriate amount of time for fields to rest and recover from the seasonal workload from one season to the next.
“Sportsfield maintenance staff have a scheduled plan to remediate and protect our fields, to ensure equitable access and the ability to keep these facilities in the best condition for all seasonal sports.”
Cr Roberts said this approach was not about excluding any group, and recommended that both teams and individuals use alternative spaces including parks, beaches and open recreation areas.
“Using fields outside allocated times can damage surfaces, delay seasonal changeovers and impact player safety.”
Users can check ground access on Council’s website by searching “Sports Venues” and “Sports Field Closures”..
As of Wednesday, only a few grounds remained closed – including Regional Stadium.
Touch State Cups
In formally lodging its bid for both the NSW Senior and Junior state cups, Council hopes to build on its “four-decade legacy as the spiritual home of touch football”.
Persistent issues with flooding and drainage at Tuffins Lane saw Port Macquarie lose the Junior State Cup to Dubbo in 2023.
The Central West city has already indicated it will be bidding to extend its hosting rights beyond 2026.
December’s Senior State Cup was the last one in the current contract between NSW Touch and PMHC.
The annual event attracts around 245 teams to the Hastings, with 4000 players and officials among the 10,000 estimated to converge on the town over the tournament.
“These events are part of our region’s identity,” Cr Roberts said.
“Securing both the Senior and Junior state cups would allow us to continue building on the events’ legacies, providing a safe, family-friendly environment that supports participation, enjoyment, and development for players of all ages.”
Upgraded facilities at the Regional Stadium are central to the bid, including the recent replacement of 1000 grandstand seats.
In its statement, Council also said it is investigating infrastructure options to improve the Tuffins Lane Sporting Fields.
By Sue STEPHENSON
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