Lake Keepit Sport and Recreation centre may be privatised

The state government has quietly been sounding out private operators to take control of eight of the 11 camps across NSW, including the Lake Keepit facility.

The community is concerned staff will be cut, services will be lost and prices will go up if the iconic facility is “leased”.

Craft camp organiser Vicki Pie has been going to Lake Keepit for 16 years, and is "dubious and anxious" about what will change if the venue is privatised.

“If they keep the same people, same prices, and just change the owners, then that's all good,” Ms Pie said.

“But we don't know what's going to happen, and it's the fear of that unknown.”

The Leader asked Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson if he supported leasing the Lake Keepit facility or preferred to leave it in government hands, however he didn’t answer the question.

“There are no plans to sell sport and recreation centres – there has been interest from industry for potential service improvements, however this needs to be looked at further,” Mr Anderson said.

Sports Minister Start Ayres backed Mr Anderson’s statement, however an internal memo seen by Fairfax Media confirms the government commissioned a report that identified “leasing” the centres “as providing the most favourable long-term return to government”.

Shadow Sports Minister Lynda Voltz said Sport and Recreation Centres were particularity important to regional communities. “It’s one of the few opportunity regional kids have to affordably travel to a facility like this,” Ms Voltz said.

“To think the government is considering privatising something that has a 95 per cent satisfaction rating with no complaints, that nearly every kids in NSW has been to just beggars belief.”

Officials from Office of Sport have already met with private operators, and The Leader understands the government will seek tenders between August and September, before presenting the proposal to Cabinet.

Mr Anderson said stakeholders, including staff, were already being consulted and would continued to be consulted during the process.

“I will continue to take a keen interest in this process and I will update the community with any new information,” Mr Anderson said.