THE controversy surrounding the $15,000 funding for the new grandstand roof at Ron Costello Oval has been resolved. Member for Kiama Gareth Ward last week announced that the funding had been approved.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Confusion over the funding arose after former Minister for Sport Graham Annesley visited Shellharbour last year and allegedly said he would attempt to secure funding for the roof.
However, his departure to take up the chief executive role at National Rugby League franchise the Gold Coast Titans, left the funding in limbo.
Since that time the Sharks, who took out a bank overdraft to complete the work, have been working with both Mr Ward and Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson to secure the funding.
"I would like to acknowledge and thank the treasurer of Shellharbour Sharks RLFC Mark Jones for his dedication to lobbying for this funding," Mr Ward said.
Sharks president Alan Cody said he was relieved the matter had been seemingly resolved.
"It's been frustrating and very time-consuming and after all of this, to be quite honest, I will believe it when we have the money in the bank, but hopefully we can now get on with our season," Mr Cody said.
Ms Watson was pleased with the result, but disappointed by the delay.
"It took months of representations to ministers and a speech in Parliament to get the state government and Mr Ward to accept they had a moral obligation to provide this funding to the Shellharbour Sharks," she said.
