Council caps sponsorship of lifesaving championships

Gosford Council has decided to cap its sponsorship of the 2014 NSW Surf Life Saving championships, after it was told they have been extended to run across four weekends.

Originally, they had been planned to run for a fortnight.

The council was told that the proposed changes could result in the cost of in-kind sponsorship, such as the waiving of associated fees and charges, increasing significantly.

These include Gosford Council's contribution of tractors and tractor drivers to provide assistance with beach cleaning, placement of crowd barrier fencing on the beach and towing of surf boats to the beach for competition.

Gosford Council agreed to provide these services last year but with the addition of a fourth weekend of competition, additional pressure will be placed on council's maintenance section to provide sufficient numbers of drivers outside standard operating hours.

Council has also identified that there are a number of instances where it may be required to provide electrical or plumbing assistance for the masters' championship.

This may increase the cost of council's contribution outside that which was provided for the 2013 State Championships.

As Gosford Council will not receive more detailed information on requirements for this event until late this year, Council's director of economic and community development Ms Colleen Worthy-Jennings said it was difficult to anticipate a true cost to council if these works go ahead.

She identified the provision of a generator for use at Ocean Beach, inflatable rescue boat wash down and on-call plumbers and electricians as factors which may affect its contribution costs.

She said that until further information was provided by NSW Surf Life Saving, a definitive sponsorship figure was unable to be provided.

However, Ms Worthy-Jennings said it was likely to be in the vicinity of $10,000.

NSW Surf Life Saving has proposed that the weekend of February 22 and 23 would see the Champion Lifesaver Patrol competition take place at Ocean Beach with an estimated 80 competitors.

On the weekend of February 28 to March 2, it was proposed that Umina and Ocean Beach would host the age championships with 3800 competitors estimated to attend.

The weekend of March 7 to 9 would see the open championships take place at Umina and Ocean Beach, with an expected 2800 competitors in attendance.

The final weekend of the State Championships, March 15 to 16, is proposed for the master championships at Umina and Ocean Beach and is estimated to attract 1200 competitors.

Gosford Council Agenda ECO.22, 20 Aug 2013