Fight to survive under pressure
THE Noosa Pirates Rugby League Club has resorted to pulling out two toilets to help lower its next sewerage bill.
The club house, at the Noosa Sports Complex, is calling on the Sunshine Coast Council to help subsidise sewerage bills as they once did.
The club's last bill, for a six month period, charged $5000 for the 19 toilets on site.
The bill is based on the number of toilets in the clubhouse.
Clubhouse president Chris O'Grady said by pulling two toilets out they will help reduce their bill over a six month period by $1000.
He has this week called on Council to once again subsidise the sewerage bill as they first did when Unitywater first took over.
"It's just not fair," he said.
"I'd like to see the council step in and help again. Unitywater aren't going to change, we've been through these debates with them before.
"I'd like to see council step back into it when they used to look after non-profit organisations."
Not-for-profit groups first felt the pinch of water/sewerage bills after the demise of council subsidies in 2010.
Another club president at the time was told by Unitywater that not-for-profit clubs were classified as commercial because they were not residential.
According to the Unitywater website, the pricing for each parcel of land contained within the Tewantin Sports Complex is charged at $645.42 per pedestal (common effluent line).
That's an increase on the $623 per pedestal it cost in the 2010/11 charge rate.
Mr O'Grady has previously written to Unitywater to ask that not-for-profit groups receive subsidy consideration, a rate review and bill clarification.
"Unitywater aren't going to change, we've been through these debates with them before," he said.
Mr O'Grady said it was up to council to subsidise the sewerage, so the clubs could put the money back into their respective sports.
"We're fighting a losing battle... sponsors are hard to come by."
Mr O'Grady said when Noosa Shire Council existed, and in the early days of the Sunshine Coast Council, the bills for six months were about $1400.
When Unitywater came online, they rose to $6030 in 2010.
"Clubs just don't have that kind of money to pay for sewerage bills," he said.
"We're due another bill very soon... basically we don't have the funds to pay it."
A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said the Water and Sewerage Funding Program was a one year funding program to fund the difference between the first and second Unitywater bills compared to the previous council bills, and was always promoted as such.
"The program was designed to lessen the impact of increased water and sewerage charges as billing moved from council to Unitywater," the spokeswoman said.
"Those clubs that aren't eligible for the Sports Field Maintenance Funding Program may be eligible to apply for operational costs, including water and sewerage, through the Community Partnership Funding Program.
"Not-for-profit community organisations can also apply for projects that increase water efficiency through council's Community Grants Program," the spokeswoman said.
