By NOEL MURPHY
COUNCIL’S ward funding system might be at the centre of controversial issue but Hockey Geelong boss Alan Climpson is unable to understand the fuss.
As far as Mr Climpson is concerned, the $1.1 million poured into Corio’s Stead Park – on top of $600,000 in state cash and $250,000 of the club’s funds – was money well-spent.
He was responding to recent concerns about the integrity of the nine-year-old funding system, which spreads ratepayers’ money evenly throughout City of Greater Geelong’s council wards.
State Government has announced a review into the system at councils around Victoria.
“Sport clubs and the community have been big beneficiaries (of the ward funding),” Mr Climpson told the Independent.
“If I’d known (ward councillor) Kylie Fisher had access to that kind I’d have tried for more but, overall, whatever they pump into Stead Park is all good as far as I’m concerned.
“It’s virtually turning a wasteland – if you play hockey or softball or darts it might as well be a wasteland – into a real community asset.”
Hockey Geelong is one of the region’s most-prominent sporting clubs, catering for at least 500 senior and 300 junior players each week.
Mr Climpson said council money apportioned to the club was helping build a key community facility that would be a great asset to Geelong, particularly if it managed to draw state championships to the city.
“It’s not what I’d call a misuse of the funds,” he said.
“If they took the politics out of council, all the Labor and Liberal stuff, and just got on with looking after the community, everyone would be better off.
“I think they might have saved themselves some trouble if they were a bit more transparent but I don’t think there’s been any misuse of money, not from what I can see.”
