The Pambula Sporting Complex committee has been told that they have used over $23,000 worth of water in the last three months when the yearly allocation from council is a theoretical $15,000.
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The timing, late last week, could hardly have been more apt given council’s recent debate over the donation of $150,000 to the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club for its irrigation system to water the courses.
The committee was told that 8424kL had been used at the Pambula Sporting Complex and that this was “obviously an issue”.
But sporting complex committee member, councillor Russell Fitzpatrick, has responded by indicating he intends to ask council to carry out $400,000 worth of work to get recycled water from Pambula to the complex.
“It is a crime that we are using potable (drinking) water to water playing fields,” he said.
Recycled water is supplied to Oaklands Farm, Pambula and the pipe passes about 1.5km away from the sporting complex. Cr Fitzpatrick has long advocated for access to recycled water for the sporting complex and believes that following the agreement to give $150,000 to the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club, towards its irrigation system renewal, supply of recycled water for the sports complex is long overdue.
“Since 2005 we have been using potable water via an irrigation system installed by volunteers and the complex committee has always been charged.
“Since 2010 I have been pressing for recycled water at the sporting complex. It will cost about $400,000 to get it there. My motion will call for council to immediately connect from the existing pipeline to the sporting complex,” Cr Fitzpatrick said.
“If council is serious about using recycled water on any sports grounds then it should be for all sporting grounds,” he added.
During the debate at the council meeting on the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club’s request for $150,000 for the renewal of its irrigation system, councillor Sharon Tapscott spoke about the need to recycle more water.
“We support healthy lifestyles. We offer recycled water and if it’s not used it’s pumped out to sea so recycling is good.
“We have to expand the capabilities we have and improve the amount of recycled water. We don’t want our courses using potable water. It’s ridiculous to be using potable water. Clubs get a bill and can’t pay it,” Cr Tapscott said.
It was just a day later that the sporting complex received an email from council warning of the amount of water that had been used.
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