Community groups rescued

Amid ongoing controversy over financial woes, Shoalhaven Council voted to preserve $180,000 in grant funding for local community groups. But two powerful deputations at last Monday's meeting made a strong case for not only preserving the efforts of local volunteers, but also attracting more support from government and business.

Across Australia, unpaid social contributions were valued at $287 billion according to a 2021 University of Sydney report. A University of Adelaide economic study ranked volunteers more valuable to Australia than the mining industry

In the Shoalhaven, construction projects costing over $60 million have been put on hold as Council redesigns a budget to save residents from the dramatic rate rise recommended by accounting experts but rejected by Council in November 2023.

But, the Community Donations Program survived, with only $20,000 worth of fireworks wiped from the fund.

Prior to the Council vote, Oli Gait of the Albatross Musical Theatre Company (AMTC) in Nowra, highlighted the enormous benefit-to-cost ratio of the work of community groups.

Speaking at Council about the community donations programme, Mr Gait acknowledged the "innumerable" benefits of volunteering, both personally and broadly across the community, but focused his speech on some telling numbers.

"In the State of Volunteering Report published by the NSW Government only last year, it says,

In 2023, 4.3 million people gave time as volunteers, contributing $178 billion of value to the state of NSW. This benefit represents 550% return on investment. In other words, for every dollar invested in volunteering, a return of $5.50 is seen. The report further calculates the replacement cost of volunteering at $39.7 billion, twice the cost of the entire NSW public sector. A significant amount of community wellbeing is attributed to the impact of volunteering and it is noted that volunteering is responsible for a 14.7% increase in workplace productivity

"How does the Shoalhaven City Council model the financial benefit that the community might gain from a community group? Or simply, for the donation given, how much is that worth?

"AMTC received $8,000 last year as part of the Community Donations Programme. We do three shows a year, two adult and one junior. That’s a donation of $2,666 for each show. 

"Our Junior Albatross Musicals (JAM) is an all-inclusive group taking kids of age 10 to 15 years old from all socio-economic backgrounds. 

"For the past 2 years, 100 kids have enrolled in JAM. Everybody who enrols is accepted. It runs over three terms and culminates in four shows at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre. 

"Based on per-child, per-hour, we provide 10,750 hours of education in total.

"I asked parents for costs relating to other after-hours activities, such as sports and arts. From council-backed art classes to private music tuition. Costs range from $20 to $120 per hour.

"There are no tuition fees for JAM. JAM is FREE. That means the 10,750 hours are valued from a range of $215,000 to $1,290,000 of tuition hours per year.  

"This is the financial value of the donation, which is a lot more than even the NSW government's estimated 550% return on investment.

"Now, in the Council's agenda, there’s no mention of policy implications, financial implications, risk implications, internal consultation or community consultation regarding the Community Donations Programme. 

"That’s because there are no implications for the council. But there are implications for the groups, of which none have been consulted."

Speaking passionately on behalf of the Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra (SYO), Jenny Cork noted that the music organisation began 24 years ago and is planning for a 25th anniversary celebration in 2025.

"I'm here for the same reason that AMTC and so many people are here: These funding cuts hit the community at the very heart of our community.

"We're volunteers. We do things for the Shoalhaven to make sure the Shoalhaven is not just 100 beaches.

"We do things for the community to make sure that we have a vibrant and thriving. Community hub, social activities for children, for parents or grandparents or everybody to come to.

"Our youth orchestra performs four times a year and through funding from grants such as from Shoalhaven Council, we've been able to put programmes into primary schools in our region.

"We've run free violin lessons at East Nowra, Nowra Hill and Cambewarra. I've watched kids start as total beginners when they were seven and they're now leading our orchestra.

"This is an opportunity that won't exist if we are to sustain cuts such as the ones proposed because the Council needs to cut spending. We know that, we've heard that, we understand that. But the kind of cut that you're talking about for our organisation is a kick to the guts.

"Such cuts are going to possibly decimate organisations, not just ours, but others like ours, and it's going to put us in severe jeopardy for continuing.

"Anybody who's been involved in associations just like ours knows full well that getting something started is so much harder than sustaining something that exists already. Our organisation has been here for the long run, by the community for the community.

"When those kids get those instruments they might not sound great at the beginning - I've listened to a few - but they sound phenomenal by the time they get to the end of the year. We've been able to show that growth and continue to.

"We bring more to the Shoalhaven than your $8000 grant can even imagine.

"Community groups such as ours ought not to be the victim of Council's internal issues. The Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra ought not to be the victim of these cuts. We are and will remain a community and group invested in providing an extraordinary opportunity for young people in the Shoalhaven area."

The November 2023 Financial Sustainability Review report from, AEC, proposed to Shoalhaven Council 27 recommended actions to increase revenue and reduce the projected annual deficit of $25-35 million.

In January 2024, Council resolved not to proceed with a Special Rate Variation (rate rise) but to confront the remaining actions, including selling assets, increasing operational efficiency and collecting more fees and charges.

Projects on hold are:

• Bay and Basin Leisure Centre refurbishment planning and design works
• Construction of Bob Proudfoot Pavilion, Sanctuary Point
• Redevelopment of Bomaderry Basketball Stadium
• Construction of stages 5 to 7 of Boongaree regional park, Berry
• Investigation, planning and design works of skate parks and pump tracks in Sussex Inlet, Sanctuary Point, Bomaderry and Worrigee
• Construction of Berry Spinners and Weavers building
• Construction of Berry Showground animal nursery
• Investigation, planning and design works of Kangaroo Valley playground.

Council also decided to investigate a smaller redesign of the Sanctuary Point District Library. Following pressure from Shoalhaven Business Chamber, Council deferred reinstating outdoor dining fees until more information is reported and a new Council is elected in September 2024.

In May, the draft budget for 2024-25 will be presented to Council and placed on public exhibition for community feedback.

Meanwhile, the show must, and will, go on for AMTC, SYO and nearly 50 other volunteer-run groups in Council's Community Donations Program.