Holstein looks for amenities funding

Member for Gosford Cr Chris Holstein has said he will look into government grants to assist Gosford Council upgrade the downstairs amenities at the Umina Beach Rugby League Club.

Club treasurer Mr Kevin Hulls said the amenities were in very poor condition.

They were supposed to be upgraded as part of the funding for the $4.3 million Peninsula Recreation Precinct, he said.

"The council has spent hundreds of thousands of Federal dollars on a facility that is not available to the community who paid for it, have spent thousands on the cricket nets that won't be used for six months but cannot change a seat in the Ladies toilet for use by the football community," said Mr Hulls.

"I would be interested if any of our elected Members would use or expect their families to use the toilets or are happy that after the millions of taxpayers' dollars spent on the area, that this is the best we can offer our supporters and our community," he said.

Cr Holstein said the original application was for the upgrade of the upstairs clubhouse but the application was submitted quickly and there wasn't a great deal of detail.

"It was for the upgrading of upstairs.

"It cost more than expected but it also didn't include aspects of some of the needs downstairs as there were certain criteria for the Federal funding," he said.

"I don't think anyone can argue that overall the facilities down there at Umina have not been a great asset to the community.

"There are aspects around there that need to be upgraded, including the amenities and my intent is to find funding from the respective State Government agencies to assist council in completing the works," said Cr Holstein.

"We are working our way through a litany of issues at the moment and I can assure you I'm giving everything as high a priority as possible as we try and tick things off."

Kaitlin Watts, 28 Apr 2011 Interviewee: Chris Holstein Email, 23 Apr 2011 Kevin Hulls, Umina RLFC