Douglas Community & Sports Club Inc., who operate The Tin Shed and the Mossman Golf Course, have turned to Douglas Shire Council for assistance to overcome their financial struggles.

In a letter to its members, Anthony Dickinson, President Douglas Community & Sports Club Inc., alluded to the organisation approaching Council.

“We are in discussions with Council and have asked for assistance, but we are not alone in asking for their help. At our recent meeting with the Council there was an understanding of our situation and need for help,” he wrote.

He added that “we are not blind to the fact that we are facing severe financial constraints to maintain both our facilities i.e. Tin Shed and golf club, but we are facing the real possibility of only being able to retain the Tin Shed.”

Kym Rowley, General Manager of the Douglas Community & Sports Club, said there had been a meeting with Council where they had presented their case.

“We put forward our needs to Council and we will learn at the appropriate time what options are available to us. This is a matter that could go forward to open council,” he said.

A Council spokesperson said initial discussions have been held and Council is waiting for a formal proposal.

Dickinson said like many other organisations, they were facing a financial struggle both at present and post pandemic restrictions; and cannot expect the next financial year’s operational situation to be anywhere near normal.

“Indeed, we believe that the 2021-2022 financial year will also fall below our usual performance expectations.

We rely on tourist participation to boost our turnover to the point where we have sufficient cash reserves to get us through our quiet time, notwithstanding the fact that our local members do us proud during those quieter periods and indeed throughout the year. 

“Your committee and management have endeavoured to reduce our running costs as much as we think is possible and prudent but the expected fall in turnover and therefore operational profit, unfortunately, is inevitable,” he says.

“This prospect is, indeed, not one we were hoping for, but we must face reality. We have decided not to issue renewal notices to our golf club members at this stage until we can see a clear path forward.

“In the meantime, the golf club will continue to operate as normal with members being able to utilise all the facilities as they have done in the past,” he writes.

Dickinson said he is hopeful that the easing of distancing rules will allow the club to have a meaningful operation of its bistro, bars, and golf club. The gaming room will be some time before it can be fully operational.