[comment caption=Should sports clubs be treated as commercial operators?]Some Dunedin sports clubs will face financial ruin if the Dunedin City Council adopts proposed trade waste bylaws, Sporting Clubs Association of New Zealand chief executive Bob Clark has predicted.
Mr Clark, of Dunedin, contacted the Otago Daily Times to express his concern about the proposals, which he said would put undue financial pressure on clubs.
"This affects every sports club and church hall in Dunedin. The DCC is trying to lump them together as commercial operators.
"I must point out that the majority of clubs in Dunedin, and in fact throughout New Zealand, are not trading for commercial gain."
The proposed bylaw made no distinction between the size of clubs, their membership or their centre of operation, he said.
Having canvassed member clubs on the costs associated with food safety, Mr Clark was sure another compliance cost would make many city clubs uneconomic.
That would deny many Dunedin ratepayers the opportunity of participating in sport and recreation.
The association was concerned the DCC was putting all sports facilities into the category of commercial operators which, Mr Clark believed, was not a correct definition.
The association urged the council to amend its proposal so that sports clubs and their facilities are exempt. Submissions on trade waste bylaw changes close tomorrow.
Mr Clark said the clubs accepted sewerage and water services were paid for as part of their rates.
However, the proposed changes would mean a bowling club watering its greens would be subject to fees for the disposal of the water as "trade waste".
In some cases, clubs would have to fit flow meters, at their own cost, so they could be charged for waste disposal.
Many clubs had a liquor licence and offered food, but that did not make them a commercial kitchen, he said.
Most clubs also had a glass-washing machine as well as a dishwasher.
"It would be fair to say that the average home in Dunedin would put through more waste than any of the clubs in Dunedin.
"The number of clubs that would have a waste disposal unit could be counted on one hand."
Another concern was the trade waste bylaw discussion document had not provided fixed costs for any of the procedures, mentioning only that there would be an application fee.
Everything else would be charged for on an hourly basis.
That would allow the council to charge what it liked, he said.
Costs that could be identified were $180 for a consent application and $60 for a council official to visit.
The association maintained that all premises operated by volunteers in the sporting and recreation sector should be treated the same as private dwellings and not have to apply for a trade waste consent, Mr Clark said.
"We would suggest that the council make all sports facilities, including clubs with liquor licences, exempt from having to have a trade waste consent to operate as they do not produce significant waste to warrant this cost," he said.
A report from DCC water and waste services manager John Mackie said the current trade waste bylaw was subject to a scheduled review by June 30, as required by the Local Government Act.
A council subcommittee of Crs Michael Guest, Kate Wilson, Dave Cull and Andrew Noone will hear the submissions.
