AN EIGHTY per cent increase in the court hire fee for users of the Recreation and Aquatic Centre has Junee Junior Netball searching for answers from council.
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Once a week, junior netballers train at the centre using two courts at a cost of $10 each.
However, the fee hike from July 1 means the cost per court will rise to $18.
The club would need to find an extra $384 to cover the remainder of the season.
"We only have one major sponsor which is the GEO Group and we're very grateful for their support each year so far," club president Tracee Breen said.
That support allows the club to provide uniforms, referees and subsidised registration for players.
Councillor Pam Halliburton mounted a spirited defence of the club, asking for council to consider providing assistance.
"The main problem is they budgeted all their known fees and considerations and directed their charges to the players on that figure, and now we've increased the court hire fees in the middle of their playing year," Cr Halliburton said.
"Their budget is not meeting its bottom line."
The club has been offered the use of other courts at little or no charge, which would leave the recreation centre without revenue from court hire or canteen sales.
"We cannot afford to lose junior netball (from the recreation centre) either financially or morally," Cr Halliburton said.
Debate among councillors focused on the club bypassing the sports committee and asking for help from directly council.
"If we're going to bypass the sports committee, each sports club will bypass the committee and come to council," Cr Martin Holmes said.
"You can't always budget for price increases such as gas or electricity."
Cr Holmes said as a member of the committee it would entitle the club to fund raise outside the newsagency on weekends.
Council resolved to defer the increase and asked for the club to pay the balance of the increase at the start of the next season, while also encouraging junior netball to join the sports committee.
"We have just enough volunteers to coach the teams, run the club, take players to games and carnivals without factoring in extra time and help needed to man the paper shop corner," Mrs Breen said.
"Leaving the court fee as it is for the remainder of this year, but then expecting us to back pay at the beginning of the next year is no help at all."
