Blackwood Rec Centre Board Shatters 32-Year Inline Hockey Legacy in Clear Breach of Lease

1 August 2025
Press Release
For immediate release

Blackwood Rec Centre Board Shatters 32-Year Inline Hockey Legacy in Clear Breach of Lease

The volunteer Board of Management at Blackwood Recreation Centre has announced the termination of its inline hockey competitions, directly contradicting its Underlease agreement with the City of Mitcham and disenfranchising hundreds of young athletes and their families.

Key Facts at a Glance
• Board has already breached Clause 4.3 of its Underlease (2001) by cancelling existing sports
• Inline hockey ran profitably (19 teams → $15.3 k surplus; 40.4 % margin)
• 32 years of continuous play lost; over 300 local players disenfranchised
• Good-Faith Negotiations Ignored by Rec Board

1. Board Botches Underlease Renewal and Violates Sports-Continuation Obligation

In August 2021, the Board admitted it completely missed the simple step of requesting an automatic 15-year renewal:
"It has recently come to light that because our letter did not explicitly request the renewal... we did not meet the required terms for an automatic right of renewal."
Worse still, the December 2001 Underlease they're still operating under contains a clear mandate-Clause 4.3:
"BCRAI shall continue to provide and support all existing sports and recreation activities currently operating at the Centre for the duration of the lease."
By cancelling inline hockey, the Board isn't just heartless; it breaches its core contractual duty, calling into question its basic ability to manage even routine obligations.

2. Ratepayers Forced to Subsidise $105,000 Annually

Rather than negotiating fair rent or insurance contributions, the Board pressed for a peppercorn $1 lease and $0 towards building insurance-despite market valuations showing up to $255,000 per annum in forgone rent. Council's March 2025 Agenda Report confirms:
• "Council notes that this option would result in an annual ratepayer subsidy of $105,000 per annum".
• "Council notes that it is forgoing up to $255,000 in annual rental as identified in the Independent Open Market Valuation".
"After the concessions in the lease... this brings the estimated ratepayer subsidy down to: $104,850 per annum."

3. Inline Hockey Was Publicly Profitable

According to financial documents provided by the BCRAI to council, between January and November 2024, inline hockey's 19 teams generated $37,949 in revenue and incurred $22,612 in operating costs. This resulted in a net surplus of $15,337, representing a 40.4% profit margin.
Metric Amount ($) Margin (%)
Revenue 37,949
Expenses 22,612
Surplus 15,337 40.4

According to the BCRAI's YTD Jan-Nov 2024 Team Sports figures, apportioned by 19 of 140 total teams
By axing inline hockey, the Board discards a proven revenue-positive program, forcing profitable activities to subsidise their governance failures.

4. Hundreds of Families Disenfranchised

Inline hockey supports 19 teams and a thriving juniors competition every school term, engaging well over 300 male and female participants-many under 18-in structured training and games. Inline hockey has been played at Blackwood Rec Centre since June 1993-32 years of continuous sport-and the Blackwood Inline Hockey Club was founded in 1996 (29 years ago). The Board's decision removes a safe, community-based outlet for youth and adult players and their families.

5. Call to Action

We urge journalists to investigate this breach of public trust and for the community to demand:
• Immediate reinstatement of inline hockey under the existing Underlease terms.
• Transparent cost-allocation and rent contributions from BCRAI.
• Formation of an independent audit of Board decisions affecting community services.
Contact your Mitcham Councillor and the Minister for Education to insist on accountability and fairness for the families of Blackwood. Public protest actions are planned from next week-stand with our players!
6. Proposed Lease Requires Continuation of Services

The draft new lease, agreed in principle by Council but pending signatures, explicitly requires BCRAI to "continue providing all existing sports and community services" throughout the term. By cancelling hockey now, the Board places Council in the untenable position of either:
1. Signing an agreement in bad faith, knowing the Centre has already broken its core service commitments.
2. Refusing to ratify the lease, leaving the facility without an operator and the community without critical services.

7. Good-Faith Negotiations Ignored

Blackwood Inline Hockey Club representatives met with the Rec Centre Board on multiple occasions to address concerns-presenting usage data, cost-share proposals and volunteer support plans. According to BCRAI's own correspondence, each time the Club responded to one objection, the Board introduced a new, unsupported rationale and refused to revisit previous agreements.

8. Inline Hockey Club to Rally Community on 12 August

Blackwood Inline Hockey Club will attend the Mitcham Council's public meeting on 12 August 2025 to:
• Urge Councillors to withhold signing the new lease until hockey is reinstated.
• Call for a formal tender process to find an operator committed to financial responsibility and service continuity.
• Demand restoration of the inline hockey league and protections for youth sporting programs.
Community members, families and local businesses are invited to join the meeting and show their support. Mitcham residents are invited to contact the mayor and request a deputation to speak directly to the Council.

References
1. Council Agenda Report Item 4.1: Blackwood Community Recreation Centre - Future Arrangements, 25 March 2025. Link
2. Underlease with the City of Mitcham - Blackwood Recreation Centre, Background & Heads of Agreement. Link
3. BCRAI Presentation to Council, Lease Update Information Session, 5 November 2024. Link

Media Contact: Shanon Prum Email: shanmakor@mac.com Phone: 0474066606

PO Box 636 Mount Barker, SA 5251
Media Contact: Shanon Prum Email: press@topshelfdsp.com Phone: 0474066606

Blackwood Inline Hockey Club is a volunteer-run community sports organisation dedicated to promoting inclusive, fast-paced inline hockey for players of all ages and skill levels. Founded in 1996, the club has supported over 300 active members across junior, senior, and mixed-gender teams, with a strong focus on youth development, teamwork, and fair play.

This release was published on openPR.