Council should not sponsor company advertising

More than 600 children aged between seven and 15 took part in the Kids Tryathlon at Woy Woy in January last year.

The marketers of the event, Weet-Bix (Sanitarium), claimed it planned and managed this event, but Gosford Council approved the application by X-Tri Australia P/L to hold the event on Council's roads, parks and the Peninsula Leisure Centre.

X-Tri Australia claimed it was a non-profit organisation and Council subsidised the event by waiving thousands of dollars worth of charges and fees payable for the use of its public properties.

As an 86-year-old former veteran athlete, I have done my share of swimming, cycling and running marathons.

I am still associated with the group of amateur athletes who have been running at Parramatta Park for 40 years.

They don't have sponsors or public subsidies and they have even donated thousands of dollars to real charities.

I can appreciate that young people get this opportunity to test their endurance in this well organised sporting event, but Gosford Council should recognise that Sanitarium is in this to advertise its product and defend its share of the breakfast cereal market.

The user-pays principle should apply and Council should collect for the public revenue fair rent when public assets are use for private commercial profit.

Letter, 6 Jan 2011 John Collins, Woy Woy