VacuousNess, The Blog: State of Rowing in Tasmania

"Oarsome Rowing Precinct for Tamar”: Is it best really for the sport?

Yesterday The Examiner newspaper ran a puff piece and an online editorial on the Launceston City Council's establishment of a rowing precinct at Inveresk.

The precinct itself had been on the table since the early 2000s, however, the most recent developments are cause for concern and raise more questions than they answer none of which, this writer has received adequate - or in some cases ANY answers to.

I am also fully aware that in writing this blog Rowing Tasmania may come after me, mine and / or North Esk Rowing Club for placing these questions in the public domain. As may Launceston City Council.

Perhaps the Tasmanian Minister for Sport & Recreation (Premier) Will Hodgman, Rowing Australia and the City of Launceston could answer them, as no one else seems willing to, or perhaps able to.

How is this going to function when it comes to the pontoon? When the North Esk Rowing Club (NERC) (including North Esk Dragon Boats) and St Patrick's College already have the pontoon running at capacity?

North Esk Rowing Club have been paying for the insurance and repairs of the NERC for the pontoon since it was originally put in position more than 11 years ago. The pontoon having been supplied by a private benefactor.

After the 2016 flood, NERC spent more than $50k on pontoon repairs. Post flood repairs, NERC were approached by the Launceston City Council and the private benefactor, to discuss the option of adding a second pontoon. NERC chose to take this option, as the pontoon use had already outgrown the pontoon. At no time were NERC (nor St Patrick's College) informed that the pontoon would be shared between themselves AND the entire rowing precinct.

Given this pontoon already runs at capacity, adding extra clubs and organisations to the existing share arrangements may very well be dangerous. So where are the risk assessment reports etc. from Rowing Tasmania and Launceston City Council?

Will Rowing Tasmania, who have been given control of the precinct (I'll come back to this at a later date) be reimbursing NERC for their $50k+ or will they remove NERC's half at Rowing Tasmania cost and place at the rear access of the NERC's boat sheds, for NERC's exclusive use?

As to the costs of running Rowing Tasmania's head quarters within this rowing precinct, what is this going to cost the Tasmanian rowing community?

Seat fees are already $14 per crew member, per race. Then add club membership fees, travel, uniforms and compulsory Rowing Tasmania membership. People are already being priced out of the sport and volunteers are dropping away rapidly.

For almost 50years North Esk Rowing Club has fostered and supported disabled rowing, teenagers from Govt schools and disadvantaged youngsters wanting to row. These are the people most affected by expensive seat fees. All of which has largely been done without any financial or other support from Rowing Tasmania itself, and I've no knowledge of Rowing Tasmania assisting other clubs in these areas.

Serious questions really need to be addressed. As fees increase and costs force rowers out of the sport and volunteers; including coaches, drop away rapidly... are Rowing Tasmania, Launceston City Council and the Tasmanian Liberal Govt. really working in the best interests of rowing, or primarily in the interests of their own political (and other) agendas?

When all of these elements are put in context it is simply not going to be sustainable for Launceston to have 3 rowing clubs. Where are the rowers and coaches going to come from, the private schools? It's already known that it is difficult to retain these youngsters once they finish school and the private schools state wide are struggling to find experienced coaches.

Is it realistic to believe that Scotch Oakburn College and Launceston Church Grammar School are really going to give up the independence of their own boat sheds, boat parks and pontoons / ramps, to move to a site managed by Rowing Tasmania, rather than a consortium of all stake holders with equal rights and votes? If North Esk Rowing Club had been aware of this new dynamic prior to their move, one doubts that such a move would ever have been agreed to and NERC would remain on the original site and conditions of their original 99year+ lease with the Crown.

One last thing before signing off. It is almost impossible for clubs within Tasmania to make Rowing Tasmania accountable or questioned, not due to the Rowing Tasmania 'Incorporated Constitution.' that is a rather simple document... no, the problem is the 11 PAGES of By Laws ! and the day to day functionality of the system / organisational structure itself.

Perhaps it's time rowing clubs around Tasmania re-estanblished the NTRA* and STRA**. There is absolutely no doubt that Rowing Tasmania would fight such a move tooth and nail, but perhaps this will be the only way to save rowing, rowing clubs and provide Tasmanian rowers with affordable racing through locally run regattas.

*Northern Tasmanian Rowing Association. (NTRA)

**Southern Tasmanian Rowing Association. (STRA)

PS.

There is a Launceston City Council election due at the end of this year AND a Federal Election early 2019 - just saying.......

Follow up blog on this issue 11th Sept 2018:

Rowing in Tasmania: Does Propaganda & Reiteration Really Work?

Blogs by Concerned Citizen Advocacy Groups (Launceston):

State of Rowing in Tasmania

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