LOCAL council and netball club representatives will discuss how to better utilise Loxton’s multi-million dollar precinct, after netballers played in Arctic-like conditions last Saturday while the indoor courts remained empty.
Teams braved the cold and wind on Loxton’s outside courts, while the two indoor courts – located within the $13 million Loxton Precinct – remained vacant for the Riverland Netball Association matches, which included junior fixtures.
Loxton Netball Club representatives are expected to meet with the District Council of Loxton Waikerie in the coming weeks.
The Murray Pioneer understands some of the teams scheduled to play on the four outdoor courts on Saturday asked to play in The Precinct, but their requests were denied.
Loxton North Netball Club had a number of teams play at Loxton on Saturday and club president Jessie Miller said she hoped the facility could be more accessible in future, particularly in inclement weather.
“It would be fantastic to play indoors at excellent facilities like The Precinct, but we also appreciate the many factors that need to be discussed at club level for matters like this to be considered,” she said. “The weather (on Saturday) wasn’t great, but fortunately didn’t call for the cancellation of any games.”
A severe weather warning was issued on Friday night and Saturday morning for damaging winds in the Riverland.
Wind gusts reached 61km/h on Saturday, while the temperature peaked at a chilly 14.9C.
Council’s fees and charges register states that full-court hire at The Precinct is $45 per court, per hour. Loxton Netball Club currently has 12 netball teams, excluding A1 and A2, which already have their indoor court hire fees covered.
During inclement weather, it would currently cost the Loxton Netball Club $810 per round to have all its teams hire an indoor court for 90 minutes.
Council CEO David Beaton said he hopes to see The Precinct used by more people.
“We have a big community investment,” he said. “We have to maximise the use and we need to work out how it is that we do that.”
To coincide with its home game against Loxton North, the Loxton Football Club had a function in the stadium’s upstairs mezzanine facility last Saturday.