Society targets April 30 as its drop-dead date for the Sportsplex

Don McClintock speaks at a recent federal funding announcement for the Cowichan Sportsplex. McClintock is hopeful funding will also be forthcoming from local government.

Don Bodger/file

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The ball is in the Cowichan Valley Regional District's court.

And the Cowichan Sportsplex is waiting for it to be returned.

The Chesterfield Sports Society is seeking $146,500 for a regional grant-in-aid from the CVRD for 2013. Better yet, it would like a permanent annual funding contribution.

"The purpose of our being (before the CVRD Nov. 28) was to make our final verbal presentation to the regional services committee,'' said Chesterfield Sports Society president Don McClintock.

"They heard us out and they will formally take up our application and debate it.''

The CVRD is but one of four pieces to the Sportsplex funding puzzle, with totals of $75,000 being sought from the Municipality of North Cowichan, $15,000 from School District 79 and $12,000 from the City of Duncan.

"These are the amounts we're gunning for and need to have,'' said McClintock.

He added confirmation is needed from all parties by April 30 of 2013. "Assuming we get it, we carry on.''

If not, McClintock said he doesn't like the alternative.

"We'd be giving notice vacating operation of the facility by a certain date,'' he said. "We don't hope that's going to happen.''

McClintock's gut feeling is a softening of the hard-line stance of some directors.

"They recognize if they do not support the granting of the required funds, they are going to be faced with operating it themselves and at a much higher cost,'' he said.

CVRD Chief Administrative Officer Warren Jones presented a report to the regional services committee meeting Wednesday for the creation of an annual financial contribution function for the Cowichan Sportsplex. It was recommended the board provide direction on a long-term funding option.

The Corporate Strategic Plan identifies the development of a long-term recreation funding strategy for the region as a priority. Selection and implementation of a preferred funding model for the Cowichan Sportsplex would represent progress toward achieving this priority, Jones noted in his report.