Lake Macquarie Sport and Recreation Centres


19th October 2016

Mr GREG PIPER ( Lake Macquarie ) ( 16:50 :25 ): When we fail to educate our children properly I believe our future is not only compromised but also bleak. I have great faith in the public education system and the work that is happening inside classrooms. But I am also a great supporter of the public education that is taking place outside the classroom. Lake Macquarie is fortunate to have two of the finest outdoor classrooms in the State: the Point Wolstoncroft and Myuna Bay sport and recreation centres. Both are situated on the shores of Lake Macquarie, with Myuna Bay on the western side of the lake. It is a well-known location that is seen by all as they move between Morisset and Toronto. It is a 22 hectare outdoor classroom staffed by trained and trusted teachers.

Few local people would not have spent time at Myuna Bay as part of a school camp, community group or sports training event. It has hosted corporate training events, programs for seniors and family camps. The centre is equipped with on-site lodging, pools, classrooms, kayaks and outdoor training facilities such as climbing walls and flying foxes. It is situated in natural bushland adjacent to the lake and Whiteheads Lagoon, which has become a renowned and popular location for waterskiing. Of the estimated 1,200 competitive waterskiers in Australia, about 100 of them are regular competitors at the Myuna Bay Waterski Club tournament, including champion waterskier and local resident Tim Bradstreet. They all agree that the lagoon is a world-class waterski venue. Disabled skiers also use the lagoon to train and compete. The centre is bidding to host the 2017 World Disabled Waterski Championships.

Myuna Bay offers a fun and appealing learning challenge for young people because it takes them outside the classroom and away from the textbooks. It provides practical lessons that cannot be taught in a classroom. Myuna Bay's success over many decades is due largely to its capacity to adapt and to the dedication of its qualified staff to training and educating young people. These young people do not just arrive with school camps; they visit with disability groups, cultural groups or other sporting or community groups. In recent years Myuna Bay has hosted disabled and special needs groups such as Camp Breakaway, Camp Quality, Sydney Health, CanTeen, The Samaritans, the Northcott Centre and many others. It has also hosted groups from the Rural Fire Service, NSW Police Force, Scouts, State Emergency Services and United Muslims of Australia. It has hosted big-name sporting clubs such as the Newcastle Knights and was the venue for the International Children's Games and the Special Olympics.

Staff at the centre and the broader Lake Macquarie community are alarmed at State Government plans to review the operation of the State's 11 sport and recreation centres. They fear that changes of the kind being proposed will reduce the quality of service and programs at the centre and see job losses among dedicated professionals. If the mooted changes eventuate I am concerned about the future of Myuna Bay and Point Wolstoncroft, which have served several generations in the local area. I have had discussions with the sports Minister and with the Executive Director, Recreation and Sport, at the Office of Sport, Phil Hamdorf. They have given me some assurances about process, but I remain concerned that these centres are being considered for any type of privatisation. I would hate to see either of the centres lost or diminished in any way.

In the financial year to 30 June 2016, Myuna Bay was among the best performers of its type. Its revenue was $3.28 million and expenditure $2.81 million in employee and operating costs. It was a similar story across the lake at Point Wolstoncroft. Myuna Bay will host more than 40 events and programs for disabled and special needs groups this year alone. It will do this with professional, highly trained staff who are committed to providing excellence in education. The highly respected Ken Clifford passed away last year after many years at the helm of the Hunter Academy of Sport. He described Myuna Bay as "the ideal mix of sporting and recreational facilities". He said it was the "ideal venue to conduct a sports camp" among trained professionals. He was correct.

I await with some trepidation the results of the Government's review and its recommendations. I am privileged to acknowledge the work of Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre in this Chamber and, in particular, all the staff who work under centre manager Nick Rendell. At a time when society should be doing more to engage our children and youth with the outdoors and the natural environment there should be further investment in our sport and recreation centres rather than risking the quality of service delivery for, at best, a modest saving. I call on the Government to commit to maintaining sport and recreation centres in New South Wales and supporting the dedicated and professional workforce who go above and beyond the call of duty in operating those centres to the benefit of New South Wales residents.


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