Cricket club gets sports grant

Gosford Council has given $40,000 to sporting clubs under its annual capital improvement grant program after receiving requests totalling $128,251.

Council considered 24 applications for funding with 13 being successful.

There was only one successful Peninsula sporting group.

Umina Cricket Club received $616, the full amount they requested, for practice wickets.

Unsuccessful Peninsula clubs were: Peninsula Swans Junior Australian Football League Club, which asked for $2070 to purchase a linemarker, jumpers and goalpost padding.

Umina Rugby League Football Club, which requested $3500 to purchase general equipment and a PA system.

Umina Surf Life Saving Club, which requested $2552 for a surf top upgrade.

All funding is given on a dollar for dollar basis.

The committee making the recommendations to Council, the Gosford City Sports Council, is made from representatives from the different sports.

Cr Lynne Bockholt said she was unhappy about the process of prioritising requests.

"The Sport's Council don't get to see the actual applications," she said.

"They only get to see Council officer's recommendations.

"I just feel like an observer in all this."

President of the Umina Surf Club, Mr Brian Paul, expressed concerns in addressing Council.

"We were given only a couple of hours notice of the meeting with a message left on our answering machine which wasn't picked up until the next day," he said.

"I don't think this is long enough.

"We were told that there was no appeal system and were not told why our application was not granted.

"Ettalong Beach Club has withdrawn its funding, but our club is still growing.

"It is overwhelming the number of new members we are getting."

Carl Spears, September 12