Ward Visits Bomaderry Bowling Club To Highlight MOU With ClubsNSW

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has visited Bomaderry Bowling Club to meet with Secretary Manager Garry Wilbraham to discuss the NSW Government’s MOU with ClubsNSW and the benefits it will provide for our local communities.

Mr Ward said that the NSW Government is committed to strengthening our State’s economy, growing jobs and building stronger communities.

“I recognise that clubs are often a key point of connection in our local communities,” he said.

“Bomaderry Bowling Club is a great community hub which provides a place to socialise as well as a refuge in times of emergency.

“On many occasions, this Club has acted as a point of safety and support for local residents and families during times of emergencies including floods and the recent fires in Cambewarra and Bomaderry area.

“Clubs in NSW also employ 43,000 people including about 23,000 in regional communities and provide strong levels of community support.

“The NSW Government is committed to policies for the clubs sector that ensure stable operating conditions, benefits for the community and employment.

“We will maintain the current clubs gaming tax regime and recognises the importance of operating certainty for clubs in their provision of services to the community. Clubs are expected to contribute $3.4 billion over the next four years to our State revenue.

“We will continue to recognise the club industry’s contribution to the community through the ClubGRANTS scheme and maintain the ClubGRANTS contribution rebate, which will result in clubs putting more than $348 million into community projects over the next four years.

“The NSW Government will commit to working with the club industry to drive regional job creation by establishing a regional club trainee employment program with ClubsNSW to support job creation in regional NSW,” Mr Ward said.

“We will commit to formalising the role clubs play in providing spaces for training and education and consider how clubs can be used to improve access to training facilities and provide hands-on experience for trainees in their local communities.

“This includes facilitating a partnership between clubs, TAFE and other educational/training organisations and promoting the use of club facilities by TAFE or other educational/training organisations for the education of students.

“I am also pleased that the NSW Government will be working with ClubsNSW to modernise the club sign-in and membership process using digital technology.

“We will continue to work with the hospitality industry to drive regional job creation and broader access for the community to government initiatives.

“I appreciate the important role that Bomaderry Bowling Club and other local clubs play in our communities particularly through the provision of jobs and local sporting and social infrastructure,” Mr Ward concluded.