The extension of the operation period of the Laverty pop-up COVID testing clinic, between the netball courts at the back of the Leisure Centre, to 11 July from 4 July is the last straw for the organisers of the popular sport.

The Kiama Netball Association willingly cancelled their mid-week training sessions and competition games on the first weekend in July, when they were told that the clinic would only operate until that Sunday. They are not happy to have to cancel their competition games for another weekend, especially as they were not even notified of the extension despite earlier contacting Council and Gareth Ward MP to express their concerns.

The clinic sits directly between the courts – 5 courts to the east and 4 courts plus the clubhouse in the west of the testing station.

“The site was decided without any consultation,” says President of the Kiama Netball Association Rhonda Beedles.

“Cars are driving right through the middle of our sports area and we are expected to manage the safety of children playing sport and moving from one court to another. Not to mention our concerns that they are testing a more infectious strain of COVID in this space.”

The testing clinic uses the clubhouse to store supplies.

“Our girls use the toilets in that clubhouse and we sell bottled water to our players from the canteen in that clubhouse,” Rhonda says.

“This doesn’t fit with our COVID plan. We’ve asked Laverty [who runs the clinic] for a copy of their risk assessment but haven’t heard back from them. It’s a pass the buck thing, Laverty says they are just there to run the clinic and NSW Health is responsible. But NSW Health says Kiama Council is responsible.

“Let me make it quite clear, our 850 netball members and their parents don't care who made the decision and will probably put some blame on everyone as the clinic now means our sport cannot go ahead with a Covid Testing Clinic in the middle of the venue.

“We just asked for the testing station to be shifted 100 metres around from where it is sited now, away from the Leisure Centre on the western side. But the big marquee is still opposite the club house.”

 850 netballers use the courts

John Dawson, Secretary of the Kiama District Sports Association, says that the site was ‘tolerated’ by the netballers when first erected in January as this was their off season.

“But it is now in the middle of their season and this will prevent the use of the courts for both training and playing,” he says.

In an email to him, Mayor Mark Honey explained why the location had been chosen again, “Council were contacted by NSW Health and Laverty Pathology to urgently assist in the launch of the pop up clinic and because the current site had been used earlier this year, and met the criteria put forward by NSW Health, it was the preferred option again so as to avoid community confusion.

“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.

“Our staff have offered alternative sites as options, which were deemed unsuitable.”

Rhonda and John remain convinced that alternate sites for the testing facility – including the Showground precinct near the woodchopping area, where cars could enter from Bong Bong St and leave along Terralong St; the disused old Bluehaven carpark/entrance in Havilah Place; the carpark in front of the Council Workshops; the new carpark at Jones Beach; and the carpark next to Chittick Oval and Coronation Park – would have been better options.

“We are asking why us again, does Council value our sport less than the other sports in the area? We are just trying to provide our young players with some sport which is good for their physical and mental wellbeing,” says Rhonda.

The competition is in full swing

She is appealing for other sites to be looked into through a transparent process, to make sure all the pros and cons have been considered, in case the pop-up clinic is needed again.

In his email, Mayor Honey said he had heard their issues and understood their concerns but stressed the situation required a whole of community response.

“I do understand how inconvenient it is, but we must all work together and do our bit to help the situation during this global pandemic and more acutely during this new lock.

“I am hoping that with testing, vaccines and careful management the lock downs won’t extend further to our local government area and our community.”

At writing, it is unclear whether the clinic will remain open after 11 July, given the extension of the lockdown to our north.

The other local testing clinic is at the Gerringong Medical and Cosmetic Clinic in Belinda Street.

Details: The testing centre at the Kiama Netball Court, off Terralong St (down the side of the Fire and Rescue Station), is open Mon-Fri 8-4pm and Sat-Sun 8-1pm. No request form required.

The Gerringong Medical and Cosmetic Clinic at 139 Belinda St Gerringong is open for COVID testing Mon-Fri 9-5. Call ahead or walk in. Bulk billed. 4207 4200