Geraldton council to vote on CSRFF grants

Three Geraldton clubs are vying for a share of $100,000, but only two will see a payday.

That is the situation facing the Geraldton City Council as they decide how to portion out this year’s Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund.

One of the contenders, the Geraldton Pistol Club, failed a compliance check in July last year. The range, which is used by 48 members as well as local and federal police for training exercises, is required to be fenced to keep people from wandering into the path of a stray shot. The club has asked the City to chip in $11,165 to cover a third of the cost of a 1.8m high chain link fence.

“We did have problems with motorbikes in our safety fallout zone,” club president Murray Gratte said. “If we don’t get the funding, we’d be back to where we were 25 years ago, with an agricultural type fence that can easily be cut.”

Neighbours, the Geraldton Clay Target Club, have applied for $75,520 to build a storage facility for their electronic target launchers, and clay targets. Over the weekend of its biggest event, the Crayfish Carnival, the club can expect to go through 80,000 targets between 200 shooters.

Club president Peter Lemmon said the club had raised more than $200,000 for local groups and charities, and built their facilities off their own finances. This is the first time they have applied for a grant.

The City could fund these two clubs and have money to spare, but not enough to fulfil the third application, from the Geraldton Golf Club. They have asked for $99,000 to build a new machinery storage shed, which would free up an existing shed to store golf buggies and members’ equipment.

Cr Steve Douglas commented on the application at the forum last week, saying: “It’s a want, not a need.”

Golf club secretary Sue Douglas disagreed, emphasising the positive effects on physical fitness for older members.

“It’s a need on the basis that we’re trying to encourage people to play golf. Think about an older player ... you have to get the golf clubs out of the garage, put them in the car, get them out of the boot ... it’s a lot more work.”

The council will vote on the applications at a meeting tonight.