During Tuesday night’s Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council meeting (CGRC), a motion was put forward regarding the donation of money to the Cootamundra Cycling Club.
The motion was signed by Councillor Les Cooper and Rosalind Wight and submitted on 16 September.
The motion reads, “I hereby give notice of my intention to move the following motion at the Council meeting of Tuesday, 28 October 2025:
“That Council make a Community Donation to Cootamundra Cycle Club to assist with the payment of their annual lease payment for Crown Land and their Council Rates on that land.
“Country Sporting clubs have been finding it extremely difficult to cover all the additional costs they now face in an ever-changing financial landscape. Additionally, the Cootamundra Cycle Club are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the area (for obvious safety reasons) as this area is used by the community as well. The burden of the additional costs is having a major impact on the financial standing of the club and, with that in mind, without financial assistance, the club will have to relinquish the lease, and the land will return to unkept bush.”
CGRC’s Interim General Manager, Roger Bailey, said, “The amount of rates levied for this parcel for the 2025–26 financial year is $524.49.
“Council currently has $5,834 remaining in its Donations Budget.
“As the lease for the parcel is held with Crown Lands, the exact lease charge is not confirmed but is estimated to be approximately $700. Council should exercise caution in agreeing to pay such a lease fee on behalf of an external organisation, as this may establish a precedent and could be considered outside Council’s normal financial assistance framework.”
More to come on the decision once draft minutes are published in next week’s edition.
– Jack Murray
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.
