Soccer goal a penalty for ratepayers

[DIEHARD]

Soccer goal a penalty for ratepayers

GOLD Coast City Council's decision to give the Gold Coast United soccer club $180,000 is curious at best and, no doubt, one not all ratepayers will endorse.

The cheque comes on top of $150,000 Gold Coast Tourism will spend to help the team lure locals to its games and soccer fans to the city.

While it is commendable that the council wants to support and promote products within the city, this could be seen as an unfair handout to a team that has failed to engage with its community -- and at the same time has a very healthy funding source of its own.

How many other Gold Coast organisations could benefit from a $180,000 cash injection? The list would be endless. It is also questionable judgment call by our tourism body to spend rare funds in such a way.

Gold Coast United is owned by the country's seventh-richest man, billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer.

No doubt, given Mr Palmer's well-publicised wealth -- which increased in the last year by $500 million -- there is cash available should the team wish to further promote its place in the city.

But the council has decided it is the city's ratepayers -- who continue to be slugged with higher fees and more levies -- who will pay for a team that, in previous seasons, has taken its community for granted.

The funds will be used to pay for a portion of the stadium fees over three games. The council has 'conservatively' forecast it will see an $80,000 return on that investment. It is Gold Coast Tourism's job to get the people there.

Without big crowd numbers -- something the team struggled with last year -- this plan is foiled.

Last weekend, the Gold Coast Titans announced more recipients of funding from its community grants program, which has given away close to $1 million over the past four years.

The club is actively involved in the community -- and has been since before it began. Gold Coast United has not shown that depth of commitment at all.

It is peculiar, even incredible, that the council has decided to throw its financial weight behind a club that has so far failed to ignite the passion of fans.

But then, this is a council that pays $38,000 for a barbecue.

Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Nice deal if you can get it. But I don't believe it is justified.

P.S please don't flame. Be constructive.

My understanding was that we'd get a bite of the GC Tourism $$$ as well.