Last year, the council granted Orange Waratah Sports Club $90,000 to help with leveling, re-seeding and topdressing the grounds, and the creation of an additional two sporting fields.

After a successful 12 months, the club has applied for the same amount this financial year, with indexation from 2016 until 2021.

Club president Darren Sinclair said the not-for-profit club relied on volunteers to maintain the grounds, but the load was becoming too heavy.

“They are the elderly members of the club doing all the mowing and linemarking... and we are under the pump,” he said.

“In another year or two, we’ll have to pay someone to work on the fields. The assistance is nowhere near how much they would have to pay someone to look after it.”

In a letter to the council, Mr Sinclair listed the organisations that used the sporting fields, including McCormack Barber for the New Years Eve fireworks and the Cancer Council for the Relay for Life.

“It’s a safe area to be and the facilities are there to cater for a number of people,” he said.

The fields are mostly on Crown land and total usage has grown to more than 96,000 people a year.

In a report to councillors, to be considered tonight, community, recreation and cultural services director Scott Maunder said the club provided fields for community events, which would otherwise be held on council grounds or not at all. 

“Without the grounds being managed by OWSC, council would have a current need to acquire and manage facilities of this scale,” the report said.

Councillors will vote on whether to put the funding on public exhibition.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au