TAMWORTH has been caught up in the "sports-rort" scandal, after the council's application to the grant scheme was revealed as one of the most highly recommended in the country.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
National Party senator - and former sports minister - Bridget McKenzie has come under fire for appearing to prioritise funding for sports infrastructure in marginal seats over more worthy applications before last year's election.
According to advice from Sport Australia, an independent federal authority, Tamworth Regional Council's application to the grant program in question was one of the most worthy in the country.
READ MORE:
The Leader understands the application was for additional lighting at the Riverside sporting precinct worth $432,304.
New England MP Barnaby Joyce defended the minister's decision on the council application.
Mr Joyce said a minister was within their rights to overrule the recommendations made by bureaucrats.
"If you totally rely on bureaucracy for the delivery of projects, then don't have ministers anymore," he said.
"To take counsel [from bureaucracy] is one thing; to take instruction is something else completely."
He said Tamworth Regional Council had had a lot of success attracting sporting funds in past, highlighting the federal government's $8.5 million contribution to the Northern Inland Centre of Sporting Excellence.
Mark Rodda chairs the Tamworth council sports working group and he said the Riverside lighting would have allowed more clubs to train on the fields in winter.
He said it was disappointing to learn the project was highly rated.
"From the perspective of council staff taking time to lodge that grant application, and to have other projects which didn't rank as highly get approved ... why have that process?" he said.
In a written statement, mayor Col Murray said, "We know you can't win them all."
"In our experience, the demand for grant funding is substantial and most programs are oversubscribed."
Which New England clubs got funding in the program?
$195,800 for the Bingara Pool Precinct - Youngster Social Zone which will upgrade the existing 1950s wading pool to Australian standards including new filtration system and concourse.
$190,000 for Harris Park Lighting Upgrade at Armidale to install field lighting to enable athletics and football clubs to compete and train at night.
$15,000 for Guyra Gun Club to provide disability access to the club house, complete with concrete pathway and ramp that will allow wheelchair access.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
