Yass Valley Council (YVC) has welcomed the decision by the NSW Office of Sport to collaborate with directors of the South East Regional Academy of Sports (SERAS) to improve and increase sport programs offered to athletes in the region.
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Following administrative changes at SERAS, the Office of Sport will operate the academy in 2017 to reinvigorate sport programs available to athletes and coaches in the region.
YVC general manager David Rowe said the Office of Sport’s decision to take control was a positive. “What it’ll look like, we’re not quite sure yet but it’s all positive. The office is very keen to get going,” he said.
The announcement by the Office of Sport came one month after YVC discussed future participation in SERAS at its February 2017 ordinary meeting, where council questioned the value of ongoing participation due to SERAS’s financial sustainability and governance arrangements.
Council considered allocating the $6,500 (which was allocated to SERAS in 2016–17) towards a local sports scholarship program in 2017–18 instead should a state-based academy (whether SERAS or another framework) not have continued.
Mr Rowe said council will continue to provide its allocation to the Office of Sport “...who are looking at re-establishing an academy in our area under a different framework”. “That will take some time to establish, but in the meantime the Office of Sport will continue to directly run the programs.”
Mr Rowe said council’s first preference had always been for the academy to be a separate entity and for the Office of Sport to lead it. “I think it’s better to have that independent organisation rather than council directly be involved,” he said.
SERAS chair John Hanley said the board has worked with the Office of Sport to ensure that services for athletes will increase. This position is also supported by the Canberra Region Joint Organisation of Councils.
“Assisting the development of aspiring athletes from southeast NSW is the primary aim and the future is bright thanks to the support we’ve been offered by the Office of Sport,” Mr Hanley said.
Office of Sport chief executive Matt Miller said the increased sporting opportunities were possible through additional funding in the 2017 budget. Details of the sport programs will be published once finalised.
