The City of Ryde will waive ground hire and sports field lighting costs for the remainder of the 2020 winter sports season to help local sporting clubs recover from the impact of the coronavirus (COVID -19) pandemic.
The unanimous decision from Council comes as community sport is set to resume on 1 July, more than thre e months after all community sporting matches were suspended as part of COVID -19 restrictions.
The suspension of community sport has had a serious impact on the finances of some local sporting clubs and organisations, with some struggling due to a loss i n memberships, sponsors and ongoing fees.
City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, said the waiving of ground hire and sports field lighting costs will help ensure local sporting organisations survive the current crisis.
"Si nce the COVID -19 pandemic begu n this Council's intention has been to provide support to those who need it. The waiving of these costs does just that by providing support to those clubs who have been impacted the most by the pandemic. Clr Laxale said.
"By easing a financial burden, our community clubs can now concentrate on resuming play and getting local s back p articipating in the activities that they enjoy."
Sporting clubs will need to formally apply with Council to have ground hire and sports field lighting costs waived.
In add ition to the waiving of ground hire and sports field lighting costs, Council also unanimously resolved to extend the 2020 winter sports season to mid -October and to activate the lighting at some sports grounds to allow for weekday night games where permiss ible.
Clr Roy Maggio, who put forward the motion proposing the changes, said he was delighted that Council was supporting the local sporting community.
"Community sport is something I am very passionate about, so I am proud that Council has unanimously agreed to provide assistance to local sporting clubs and organisations, some of whom are doing it extremely tough at the moment," Clr Maggio said.
Sport and Recreation and Wheeled Sports Advisory Committee Chair, Clr Bernard Purcell, said the support offered by Council would be of great benefit to community sport in the City of Ryde.
"In what has been an extremely challenging year for everyone, the support that Council is providing will help the local sporting community recover and give it the best possible opportunity of completing as much of the 2020 winter sports season as possible, which is a fantastic result," Clr Purcell said.
The motion to waive all ground hire costs, extend the winter sports season and activate lighting at some sports grounds was supported by the City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, the City of Ryde De puty Mayor, Clr Simon Zhou, Clr Trenton Brown, Clr Edwina Clifton, Clr Christopher Gordon, Clr Peter Kim, Clr Jordan Lane, Clr Roy Maggio, Clr Chris Moujalli, Clr Penny Pedersen, Clr Bernard Purcell and Clr Sarkis Yedelian OAM.
