Blackwood Community Demands Accountability at 12 August Council Meeting

MITCHAM, Australia - EntSun -- Blackwood Community Demands Accountability at 12 August Council Meeting

Adelaide, SA – The Blackwood Inline Hockey Club will present a petition of over 1,300 signatures—over 300 from Mitcham residents—calling on the City of Mitcham to enforce its under-lease requirement that Blackwood Rec Centre "continue to provide and support all existing sports" and work with Rec Centre management to improve governance. The petition will be tabled at the full Council meeting on Tuesday, 12 August at 7 PM in the Mitcham Civic Centre chamber (131 Belair Road, Torrens Park).

On 24 July, Rec Centre board president Garry Dolman confirmed inline hockey is cancelled due to rink-floor damage, stating the program is "done and dusted" in on ABC Radio, Adelaide Drive with Nikolai Beilharz interview on 7 August.

Clause 4.3 of the under-lease obliges the Rec Centre to maintain all existing sports. Ending a 32-year program without prior consultation breaches that obligation.

Community Impact "We're devastated," says petition founder Jade Severino. "Hundreds of families south of Gawler relied on this program. Our petition shows inline hockey matters—not just to our players, but to over 300 local households who call Mitcham home."

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Council Action Requested Petitioners and community members ask Councillors to:

1. Formally acknowledge and receive the petition under Council's petition policy.
2. Enforce Clause 4.3 of the 2001 under-lease, requiring the Rec Centre to support and sustain all existing sports, including inline hockey.
3. Withhold approval of any new or renewed lease for Blackwood Rec Centre until inline hockey is reinstated and the Centre's compliance with its underlease obligations is independently verified.
4. Work with the BCRA Management Committee to improve governance overall, with a focus on fairness, representation, and accountability for all user groups.

Media and Public Call-out Journalists, photographers, and residents are encouraged to attend the Mitcham Council meeting on 12 August at 7 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Photo opportunity Supporters clad in colourful Blackwood Inline Hockey jerseys will arrive en masse to deliver the petition, make deputations, and demand procedural fairness and transparency.

Online petition is available at: https://www.change.org/p/blackwood-rec-natural-justice-for-players

Media Contact: Shanon Prum

Email: shanmakor@mac.com

Phone: 0474066606