Sports pavilion lease annulled

Less than two months after an official opening ceremony, management of the Hay Park Multi-Sports Pavilion is up in the air after two sporting clubs have failed to meet lease conditions.

Bunbury City Council has annulled the South West Phoenix Soccer Club and South West Warriors Rugby League Club’s lease over the multi-million dollar facility, after both were unable to agree on a Joint Venture Entity within a six month deadline.

A condition of the clubs’ combined lease over the pavilion required a single entity to be formed by September 1.

The council moved to void the lease as a late item at Tuesday night’s meeting and has requested a report on options for future management of the facility before the end of the year.

The council provided both clubs the opportunity to present a case on Tuesday night, but only Phoenix junior coordinator Jen Curtis presented a deputation.

Ms Curtis made a plea for the council to extend the period of time for an entity to be formed and said the club may not meet national competition criteria if its lease was cancelled.

She told the council Warriors project manager Terry Evans – who is understood to no longer be involved with the rugby club – had taken responsibility for the entity not coming to fruition.

In an email which Ms Curtis read to the council, Mr Evans said “I must apologise and take most of the responsibility for the delay”.

“The project to handle the registration of the new joint venture club sat with me and I failed to deliver,” the email said.

Mayor Gary Brennan yesterday said he was disappointed the clubs had not met conditions, but he was confident a suitable club would take over the lease.

“I expected there would have been a proactive position by both clubs and that hasn’t eventuated,” he said.

“I am confident the city will identify a suitable lessee.”