Sports centre on wish list

Cr Lynne Forgan would like to see new facilities for the city.

Max Fleet

AN indoor, multi-purpose, multi-court sports centre is firmly on the wish list for Bundaberg regional councillor Lynne Forgan.

Cr Forgan, in charge of the social and recreation portfolio for the Bundaberg Regional Council, said she envisioned a facility that could stage sports such as basketball and volleyball.

“It would be all indoors so there would be no weather problems,” she said.

Cr Forgan, who has owned her own hairdressing business for 26 years, was elected to the newly amalgamated Bundaberg Regional Council two years ago, her first stint in local government.

She said she knew an indoor sports centre of the type she was envisioning would cost millions of dollars, which meant the council could not do it on its own.

“We would need the sports groups that would use it to source some of the funds in grants,” she said.

“They would have to take some of the responsibility.”

Another item on Cr Forgan’s wish list is an entertainment and convention centre, although she concedes it is a long-term vision.

“It would be great, but where would you put it and who pays for it?” she said.

Cr Forgan said it was sad the way the controversy over the Innes Park skatebowl, which fell under her portfolio, had evolved.

“At the moment our hands are tied because we are waiting for the Department of Environment and Resource Management to decide if we can have it there,” she said.

“It’s something we inherited from the previous council, but it’s there for the whole community.

“The younger generation is always crying out for something to do.”

Cr Forgan said if she had to rate herself and the council she would give both an eight out of 10.

“If residents have any concerns, please come in and talk to us,” she said.