Not up to scratch: Yarroweyah Recreation Reserve Committee member Mick Stephan and committee president Gerard Brooks are unhappy with Moira Shire Council’s handling of maintenance of the grounds and clubrooms.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
The Yarroweyah Recreation Reserve Committee has questioned Moira Shire Council for what the committee says is a repeated lack of response regarding ongoing severe maintenance issues at the reserve.
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However, the council said it had performed regular maintenance on the facility during the past 24 months.
While the main issue is a persistent termite infestation, other ongoing issues include inadequate disabled toilets and change facilities, a leaking roof, a broken grounds watering system and insufficient playing field lights.
The persistent termite issue has now caused damage to walls, door frames, and ceilings, some of which crumble to the touch.
Infestation: Termite damage visible on the doorframes of the clubrooms’ office, parts of which crumble when touched.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
The termite problem allegedly first appeared in 2015, after which Yarroweyah Football Netball Club in conjunction with the Recreation Reserve Committee approached the council for assistance with repairs, as per its usage contract with the council.
Neither Yarroweyah Football Netball Club nor the Recreation Reserve Committee has a copy of this contract they have signed with the council.
Past committee president Bill Jones said, in a letter addressed to Moira Shire Council and obtained by The Courier, that the committee had ongoing issues getting most maintenance work done.
The letter alleged the club and the committee had to “fight extremely hard” to have the damage repaired, which cost the club in the vicinity of $55,000 at the time.
“They don’t live up to their obligations ... it’s bureaucracy gone mad,” Mr Jones said.
A number of termite bait stations were installed around the clubrooms to prevent the issue, but Mr Jones said these had not been maintained or checked in two to three years.
Moira Shire Council’s community general manager Sally Rice said the council had agreements with various clubs that outlined each party’s facility maintenance responsibilities.
“Committees throughout the shire undertake quarterly facility inspections and return these to council, where items are actioned in order of priority,” she said.
“There have been multiple maintenance tasks performed at the Yarroweyah Recreation Reserve in the past 24 months including irrigation repairs, repairs to ceiling and walls after water damage, renewal of shade sails over the playground, as well as supplying and installing white ant bait stations.”
Usefulness questioned: One of the termite bait boxes that Bill Jones and Gerard Brooks say have not been maintained in about two years.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
Current Yarroweyah Recreation Reserve president Gerard Brooks said the council had told them it would be cheaper to repair the damage than perform preventative work.
“We’ve had multiple discussions with the shire on the bait stations ... they don’t want a unit cost of $3000 for them (to have ongoing maintenance), so it’s cheaper for council to allow it to come to this situation,” he said.
Mr Brooks said the committee regularly documented the issues and sent a report to the council, but often waited weeks for a reply or acknowledgement of the issues.
“It just falls on deaf ears,” he said.
Reserve committee member Mick Stephan said the club formed a valued part of the community and provided valuable sport and socialisation opportunities, especially for young people.
“You’ve got to have places for the kids to grow up and play football, play their netball,” he said, adding that it connected young people who would otherwise be isolated or disengaged.
In his letter addressed to the council, Mr Jones echoed this sentiment, saying the club had had trouble attracting new players, coaches and members.
“It makes it all the more difficult and embarrassing when we travel north of the Murray River and see and experience all the modern facilities of our NSW counterparts,” he said.
“What must they think when they travel into Victoria and the Moira Shire?”
