Border Mail |
ONE of country football's hottest debates is about to end.For now, anyway.
The Tallangatta and District Football League grand final looks set to remain at Sandy Creek for at least the next three years, with the league in the process of finalising an agreement to keep the decider at its spiritual home until at least 2016.
A year-long feasibility study into the ground and its facilities was conducted last year, with recommendations then made to the TDFL executive.
Those recommendations in-cluded addressing safety issues, regular ground maintenance and the sounding out of alternate venues for the future should those recommendations not be met.
More than 150 people responded to a request for opinions on the matter.
And while a controversial move into Albury-Wodonga remained on the agenda long-term, Zac Guilfoyle, general manager of the North East football hub, confirmed yesterday the league's biggest game was poised to remain in the bush for at least the next three years.
"I think the main thing is we don't want to see an extensive amount of money poured into Sandy Creek's facilities only to see it moved the following year," Guilfoyle said.
"If they're going to invest in it then we need to lock it away.
"A three-year term, based on addressing those recommendations, is what is being discussed at the moment."
Guilfoyle said there was no deadline for an agreement to be reached, however, he was keen to see it locked in.
"Nothing's set in stone as far as a date but we'd obviously like to see it done as soon as possible -- before the season would be ideal," he said.
The latest development is likely to polarise opinion.
New Barnawartha coach Mark Sarau infamously described Sandy Creek's playing surface as "sub-standard" in 2010, with a poll of the league's clubs on the matter earlier that same year also splitting opinion.
Beechworth had also expressed an interest in seeing finals moved away from Sandy Creek, with the Bushrangers revealing to The Border Mail last March they were keen to showcase their new $2.7 million facility with a final at Baarmutha Park.
"There are definitely mixed emotions and opinions out there," Guilfoyle said.
"The whole purpose of the feasibility study was to provide as much information to assist with making the decision.
"The state of the change-rooms, toilets, netball courts and canteen are all hot topics but at the same time there are some people out there who love the country aspect of it all."
