Editor,
The proposed $750,000 Olympic sport legacy fund is a much-needed boost for recreational infrastructure in our community, a town chronically beset with financial needs with no shortage of places to invest ["Help spend $750K Olympic legacy," The Chief, Aug. 13].
However, this is 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料, so I expect there will be little consensus as how best to utilize these funds. Council will have a difficult job ahead of them trying to respond to the anticipated numerous requests from our many recreation/sports groups.
My hope is that council will use an appropriate democratic forum to gauge the broadest community support for the various proposals.
This is not the time for closed door sessions or the undue influence of powerful interest groups.
By using the money to serve a broad spectrum of our community, not only will council be making the right political decision they will also be fulfilling the stated mandates of the fund, which are:
To provide long-term benefit to sport in the community
To maximize the number of people who will benefit
To attract a high number of users/participants/viewers
To attract both adult and new youth interest (e.g. a launch pad for youth in sport)
To provide an economic benefit to the community
To leverage monies or match funds via grants or other sources
To be sustainable and minimize the operational liability of the district
So why not invest these funds in the one area of recreation that has seen the least amount of public funding? How about investing in the recreation that forms the core of our tourism future, the area that could provide the most economic benefit?
Why not invest in an area with a long history of volunteerism, where local groups have consistently demonstrated an ability to organize major sporting events, build their own infrastructure, and attract grant funding?
Why not invest in the area of recreation with the most, and steadily growing, local participation?
Clearly we should invest in our namesake brand, outdoor recreation (i.e, the non-motorized, low impact, nature-based recreation that utilizes the incredible natural assets of our surroundings).
There are so many viable, low cost, yet high impact things to do. How about a significant investment in a green level mountain bike trail that would be a destination draw, connecting and highlighting our incredible trail network?
What about a kayak and canoe put-in somewhere on the Blind Channel?
Or maybe a wheelchair accessible trail into our very special estuary? Isn't it about time that some funds be directed towards establishing a wind sports (kiteboards and small sailboats) launch site at Nexen Beach?
I've always thought some sort of climbing structure in a downtown park would be an incredible asset for locals and visitors alike. Whatever the case may be, there is no end to the possibilities and worthwhile investments.
All I know is that after spending approximately $1 billion of public money on the Olympics, the thought of 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 spending our little piece of the Olympic pie on a facility designed to justify the existence of Olympic venues built in the Callaghan Valley (i.e. the 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 sport legacy park) is, quite frankly, absurd.
Jim Harvey
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