Lawyers to get their cut from mowing dispute

By Jeremy Sollars

THE Southern Downs Regional Council is facing legal action brought by the Stanthorpe Sports Association following the failure of talks to resolve mowing and maintenance responsibility at their McGlew Street sports complex.
A statement released by the council today, Monday 19 December, confirmed that last Wednesday 4 December, the council received legal correspondence from Catanzaro Solicitors, on behalf of the Stanthorpe Sports Association, indicating that legal counsel had been briefed and that the Association would undertake legal proceedings if their demands were not met.
The SSA has long maintained that the council should undertake continued mowing of the McGlew Street complex as it has historically in the past, despite sports clubs in Warwick funding and organising their own mowing.
The council statement said the council had “attempted to work with the Stanthorpe Sports Association to bring about an outcome that delivers a service that is equitable and of a similar standard to other sporting organisations across the region”.
“Southern Downs Regional Council is disappointed with the receipt of the legal correspondence, especially given the offers and options that have been provided to the association,” the statement said.
“As a result of the legal correspondence received from the association, council will have no alternative option but to engage legal representation at ratepayers’ expense.
“The council is disappointed that what appeared to be negotiations being undertaken in good faith has progressed into a legal matter.”