School holiday activities scaled back in Gunnedah due to funding shortfall

Gunnedah Shire Council will scale back its school holiday program next year due to budget constraints and a perceived lack of value for money.

Councillors agreed to approve only half the combined $10,000 allocation sought for the summer and autumn school holiday periods – a move that did not receive unanimous support among elected representatives.

Council was told that previous holiday sessions in the Gunnedah shire were largely grant-funded, including $7000 for each for the 2024 winter and spring school holiday programs.

Among the activities last year’s funding helped deliver were two, week-long programs in July and October run by the Gunnedah Conservatorium for youth aged 12 years and above.

Significantly reduced government funding for the upcoming holiday programs meant the number of grant recipients were reduced from 700 last year to just 100.

Gunnedah was unsuccessful for its recent funding application and this triggered a requirement from council to provide financial support instead.

When the matter was brought before council’s November meeting to decide whether to proceed with the planned school holiday programs, councillor Juliana McArthur suggested council fund only $5000 for the summer session.

She highlighted the expense required for the autumn school holidays activity which provided just one, four-hour outdoor activity for up to 100 participants.

“If we’re looking for efficiencies, this would be one,” Cr McArthur said, alluding Gunnedah shire’s dire financial position and proposed special rate variation.

Councillor Tammey McAllan opposed the decision to restrict funds, highlighting council’s earlier intention to contribute $15,000 over three years for the Jack Newton Family Golf Classic in Gunnedah.

“We can spend $15,00 on a golf tournament but can’t help our children?” she questioned.

Council staff explained “a great deal of work” was involved in planning activities for each funding application and one of the main constraints faced was the age bracket for funding.

Council noted that although parents are more likely to engage school holiday activities for younger children who require supervision, the funding parameters define ‘youth’ as from 12-24 years – a teenage age group which does not necessarily embrace organised activities which the funding is designed to assist.

An alternative offered by council was to not fund any school holiday activities for the remainder of 2024/25 and use the time to develop a ‘Youth Strategy’ to clearly determine council’s role and budget in the youth and school holiday space.

Council agreed to proceed with just $5000 in funding for Gunnedah’s summer program only which includes a collaboration with PCYC to augment their ‘Rave Cave’. Council said this will “provide up to 100 young people with a fun, safe activity along with separately offering a two-hour introductory nutrition/fitness/yoga workshop for about 20 attendees; a golf workshop for at least 20 participants and a baking workshop for about 12 attendees. Options are intended to appeal to boys and girls, be inclusive and accessible and free for participants.