City of Coffs Harbour statement on synthetic hockey field

A Triple M Coffs Coast report this morning on the closure of the South Coffs synthetic hockey field surprisingly failed to mention the elephant in the room. 

The field has been closed for safety reasons due to instability in the playing surface. 

A relevant fact which somehow went unspoken is that Hockey Coffs Coast – who lease the City-owned ground – is responsible for the maintenance of the playing surface.  

The necessity for a new field and the associated grant funding requirements were not something that should have been discovered a few months ago, when urgent action is needed. 

The media report might have also asked Hockey Coffs Coast how many grants it has sought specifically for the surface replacement in the past five years? 

The City will continue to work with Hockey Coffs Coast to find a solution, noting the local hockey association has considerable funds in the bank, with a healthy annual surplus and therefore, could also seek commercial funding options, as well as seeking funding support from the sport’s state and national bodies. 

Hockey Coffs Coast has noted it is meeting with the NSW Government in a bid to secure financial assistance to refurbish its playing surface at a cost of around $1.3 million.