Petition response disappoints club

TORQUAY’S fledgling junior athletics club is “disappointed” that Surf Coast Shire Council has decided to wait on a commitment for a dedicated track and field facility for the town.

Surf Coast Little Athletics president Claire Osborn said she had hoped the shire would consider pushing ahead with planning for the athletics track at last month’s council meeting.

The shire instead voted to consider a future site in its upcoming Social Infrastructure Plan, with a report indicating it wanted to see ongoing growth for the young club before committing resources to the track.

But Ms Osborn argued the requirement created a situation where the club would struggle to grow and retain participants due to inadequate facilities, so would fail to meet the growth standard.

“I would have really loved to have seen them go with alternative option one, to start planning for a facility now,” she said.

“Council want to see us grow as a club over time, but the lack of infrastructure hinders our ability to do that.

“We’re still going to be doing athletics, but it’s not the same level as what’s available in Geelong.”

A council report tabled at last month’s meeting relied on data from participation rates for SCLA’s first season in the past summer, which showed 105 members signed up.

But Ms Osborn said her research, in conjunction with little athletics organising bodies, indicated about 280 Surf Coast children participated in the sport – indicating the majority of participants were members of clubs outside the region.

The shire’s meeting item last month was in response to a 192-signature petition submitted in April for a Torquay athletics facility.

SCLA used Torquay College’s sporting facilities for its first season and will do so again for year two, which starts in October.