SOUTHERN Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie has moved to set the record straight about council’s commitment to the maintenance of Stanthorpe sporting fields, following adverse reports by Stanthorpe Sports Association about the current lease arrangements.
“Firstly, unlike most other sporting groups across the Southern Downs region, the Stanthorpe Sports Association has not paid utility charges for sewerage access, water access, water consumption, recycled water consumption, garbage collection or the fire levy,” she said.
“These costs have been met by Southern Downs Regional Council.
“Under the terms of the most recent lease agreed to between council and the association, council will continue to meet the costs of sewerage access, water access, water consumption, recycled water consumption and the fire levy, but the new lease does require the association to pay for garbage collection.
“With the renewal of the lease, clarification has been provided to the association to remove any ambiguity around roles and responsibilities.
SDRC as the lessor is responsible for: Insurance of all hard standing infrastructure, excluding underground irrigation lines; and Maintenance of all hard standing infrastructure, including underground irrigation lines and field lighting components.
“Southern Downs Regional Council has confirmed its obligation to maintain the sporting fields in keeping with council’s Open Space Service Levels,” Cr Dobie said.
Council is bringing all maintenance throughout the region into line with this Service Levels policy. The McGlew Street Complex sporting fields are set at a Level Two rating when measured against the hierarchy in the Open Space Service Level Manual Version 1.0, 2012.
“So, what this means, is that the McGlew Street sporting complex will have its sporting fields maintained by council to the levels established for a Level Two Park,” the mayor confirmed.
The standards for a Level Two Park are as follows: Grass cut within 10 days of it reaching 100mm, 80 per cent of the time; Irrigation fixed within 10 days, 80 per cent of the time.
The mayor said that Southern Downs Regional Council acknowledged the work of the different sporting groups involved in the activities associated with the Stanthorpe Sports Association. “However, it’s important to note that the Stanthorpe Sports Association is the only association in the region that receives this level of service from council, with other facilities being maintained by committed volunteers,” Cr Dobie said.
