Dear valued members,

It is with much regret that we announce the cancellation of Round 10 of the Kiama Netball competition on Saturday 10th July. Despite the best efforts of our President Rhonda Beedles, the COVID testing facility remains within our car park area at this time.

We acknowledge NSW Health deemed our site as the preferred option ‘to avoid community confusion’ from the previous set up in January. We do however question Kiama Municipal Council on their view that ‘while there may be some small impact on the use of the clubhouse, the netball courts remain open for Kiama Netball Association to continue their sport.’

The Kiama Netball Executive Committee has met and decided there is no way that our competition can continue with the COVID clinic in place. We cannot in good faith ask parents and children to attend a location just a few metres away from a Covid Testing facility. Increased traffic flow through the area with potentially infectious passengers all within metres of our members trying to train or play matches is not a healthy environment.

We have requested to see a Risk Assessment on the area at the netball courts to see how it addresses the COVID clinic in operation at the same time as our training and Saturday competition – this has not been forthcoming.

Kiama Netball Executive want nothing more than to restart our competition. Unlike other sports, we do not have another set of courts we can move to – football, rugby, league all have that ability, we do not.

To say we are disappointed is an understatement and whilst we fully understand the seriousness of the health situation, having worked tirelessly over the last 18 months to keep our competition operating in a safe environment, the safety of our members and associated community is priority.

At the end of the day, all we want is a safe environment for our members as all the other sports in Kiama have and can continue utilising.

An update on fixture arrangements will be provided as soon as possible following discussions with Club delegates.