Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay has welcomed a 12 month reprieve for the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) from a $43,000 funding cut to its annual budget.
The MP met with Sport and Recreation Minister Kevin Greene and representatives from other NSW sport academies at Parliament House yesterday.
“I am pleased the Minister has given the academies a breathing space as the cut would have had an immediate affect in reducing services available to young athletes,” Mr Torbay said.
“The academies have put a strong business case and I will be working with NIAS CEO Peter Annis-Brown and his colleagues to press the Minister to retain or increase this funding after 2009.
“NIAS has a very important role in our area, offering special coaching for 200 young athletes aged from 12-18 in ten sports as well as developing the skills of 35 coaches and volunteer support staff each year.”
Mr Annis-Brown said the ten NSW regional sports academies had been put on notice that...