REDLAND City Council is digging in over controversial new sporting field fees – and furious schools say the move will bench kids, blow up budgets and wreck decades-old ties with local clubs.
From July 1 this year, organisations have been slugged a $100 an hour daytime charge or $120 an hour at night to use fields they’ve long accessed for free, a shift educators warn will slam families already feeling the pinch and send student participation crashing.
While schools and not-for-profit groups were later offered a 50 per cent discount, and a waiving of charges this year for bookings already made before July 1, the proposal has still raised alarm among educators.
A local teacher involved in sport, who wanted to stay anonymous, warned that imposing these fees on Redlands schools could compromise partnerships with local clubs, reduce opportunities for student athletes, and force families to shoulder extra costs.
“For many families, school sport is the last affordable option. Adding these fees will drive down participation,” he said.
“It’s also a double-dipping situation: residents already pay $13 for every $100 in rates towards the maintenance of sporting fields, and now parents are being asked to pay again.”
The local teacher outlined the potential broader consequences:
“Gala days won’t happen, or it will be on much smaller scales at local venues,” he said.
“Your associations will lose – they won’t get additional money through canteens because those events won’t go ahead.
“The collaboration between local clubs and associations will be compromised, which one can only assume will reduce participation.”
A Council spokesperson said the new fee structure was designed to ensure third-party users made a fair contribution to the cost of operating and maintaining Council-owned sporting fields.
“Prior to the introduction of these fees, third parties made no monetary contribution towards their use of a Council sports field, and the full costs were borne by Council,” the spokesperson said. “In cases where a sporting club has a Licence to Occupy on a Council sports field, the full costs were borne by Council and the club for third-party usage.”
The spokesperson said Council and local sporting clubs shared responsibility for maintaining fields, with Council contributing almost $1 million annually to upkeep.
“Introducing a user-pays approach is aimed at ensuring costs are being shared more equitably between the third-party user, Council and sporting clubs,” the spokesperson said.
“The variance in day and night rates is attributable to the additional energy costs incurred for the use of field lighting.”
Other councils in South East Queensland maintain more lenient approaches.
Moreton Bay and Logan councils charge no fees for school use, while Brisbane City Council allows clubs to charge under specific lease agreements.
The Gold Coast and Ipswich councils impose small administrative booking fees.
Despite Council’s assurances, the local teacher said the changes could have a lasting impact on school sport in the Redlands.
A Department of Education spokesperson said it was committed to ensuring all students had access to the best possible opportunities.
“The department is not in a position to comment on fees charged by local councils for use of community facilities but will continue to work in close partnership with local stakeholders to ensure that all students are able to benefit from facilities in their area.”
