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ALBURY Council had arranged a meeting with North Albury Sports Club directors before the decision was made to enter into voluntary administration.
Mayor Kevin Mack said yesterday the council was becoming increasingly concerned about the club’s plight and had a meeting booked with directors for next week.
It owns Bunton Park and leases the use of the ground to the sports club.
Cr Mack also confirmed the sports club had an undisclosed debt to the council which was to be discussed at the meeting.
“It was about what the way forward looked like for them,” Cr Mack said.
“And how that looked for us in terms of their occupation of the ground.
“We were going to have an honest discussion with their board.
“We were comfortable with that, but the bank has now stepped in.”
Cr Mack said his biggest concern was the impact on the various present users of Bunton Park, including the North Albury senior and junior football and cricket clubs, netball and lawn bowlers.
The sports club is the over-arching governance body.
“We don’t want to see the users compromised by this,” Cr Mack said.
“The clubs underneath them are the ones at risk.”
Cr Mack said the council had also been frustrated in arranging a meeting with the sports club board of directors.
“We’ve worked really hard to get someone to talk to us,” he said.
“The minute we get some headway the axe is dropped on them.”
Cr Mack said the council had no interest in entering in a sale-and-lease back proposal for the sports club’s car park.
At last year’s annual meeting members agreed to make the car park a non-core asset to pave the way for its sale.
The sports club hoped to raise $250,000 from the deal and cut debt levels.
“The value put on it was over-inflated,” Cr Mack said.
“There is an issue with the titles themselves.
“We’ve never actually sat down and had a discussion with them about that.
“It was mooted, but it has never been brought to us.”
