A revised proposal would keep the town oval canteen under council management following community concerns. However, the alternative giving Coober Pedy Together exclusive use of the canteen for five years remains available for consideration at council’s meeting on Wednesday, 28 October.

The latest council agenda recommends that the District Council of Coober Pedy retain ownership and management of the canteen, with Coober Pedy Together (CPT) receiving a licence to access the facility to carry out grant-funded renovations.

Under this recommended approach, that licence would expire when the renovations are completed. Council would continue managing bookings and maintenance, with proposed hire fees and conditions brought back to a future meeting.

This represents a significant change from the proposed five-year arrangement under which CPT would manage the canteen and its hire to community groups.

But residents should not mistake a recommendation for a final decision. The five-year, $1 exclusive-use proposal has not been formally rejected.

It remains in the report as Option 2, supported by a draft facilities agreement attached to the agenda. Council could still choose that option.

The attached agreement provides for a five-year term, a licence fee payable by CPT to council of $1 upon demand, and exclusive use of the canteen kiosk for renovations, events and hiring the facility to community groups.

The $1 is the proposed licence fee paid by CPT—not the price community groups would pay to hire the facility. The draft also provides for CPT to manage hire agreements and security bonds, and says it must not unreasonably refuse hire to community groups that comply with the requirements.

For clarity, the proposed exclusive use relates to the canteen kiosk. The agreement describes CPT’s use of the wider town oval as non-exclusive.

The report expressly acknowledges that concerns raised by community members about management of the facility prompted consideration of the two options. Its recommendation also includes formally thanking community groups for their input on the previous proposal.

That is a meaningful response to community scrutiny. It does not, however, settle the outcome before the vote.

One particularly important clarification appears in the report: CPT has confirmed that its PIRSA grant does not require it to manage the facility. The grant does require CPT to hold three events at the oval.

This means the recommended approach would allow the community to receive the funded canteen improvements while council retains responsibility for managing access and bookings.

In recognition of CPT obtaining the funding and coordinating the renovations, the recommendation would waive canteen hire fees for those three events. Other hire conditions would still apply.

Council is also being asked to formally clarify the canteen’s ownership by accepting the original Coober Pedy Football Club request that it become a community-owned council asset.

The choice before council is therefore clear: retain council management with CPT given access to undertake the renovations, or proceed with the alternative five-year arrangement placing canteen management and hiring in CPT’s hands.

The recommended direction has changed, but the exclusive licence remains on the table. Residents concerned about the future management of this community facility should watch the decision on 28 October closely.

Source: District Council of Coober Pedy, agenda for 28 October 2026, Item 13.3, pages 36–54.