The head of Victoria’s peak sporting body today warned that sporting clubs could face financial problems with excessive increases in energy prices.
Chairman of Vicsport, Margot Foster AM said many community based sporting clubs are run on ‘the smell of an oily rag’ to make ends meet.
“To have energy prices in an upward spiral with no regulatory control as power generation facilities close down is a situation where SPORT as an industry needs to be considered in overall energy policies now under discussion.”
Ms Foster said “It is important for Government to develop an energy policy with an adequate ongoing budget for Sport at both a Federal and State level to cope with increased energy costs.
“Every sporting club uses energy to maintain and operate their venues and those with night activities, using floodlights for example, for training for football, cricket, soccer, tennis, basketball and netball, all need some certainty with energy costs.
“Swimming pools and major sporting complexes, many run by local councils, are also significantly and adversely impacted by energy price hikes, which could result in councils and operators raising entry fees and membership costs.
Ms Foster said sport is not just about organising sporting events, it helps underpin Victoria’s and Australia’s health policies with healthy activity and is continually used to promote awareness of multiple health issues.
“Sporting clubs are also a vital network in dealing with social issues such as isolation, depression, mentoring of young people and the teaching of life skills of communication and teamwork.”
Currently in Victoria over 3.25 million Victorians play sport or are engaged in active recreation which involves 580,000 volunteers, 100 Sporting Associations and 16,000 clubs. *1
Media Enquiries:
Margot Foster, Chairman Vicsport – Mobile: 0414 230 213
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Vicsport – Mobile: 0417 329 201
*1 Reference
Valuing Sport and Recreation- a framework for the future background information
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