QUESTION marks remain over the immediate future of the North Coast Surfboat Series ahead of the scheduled November start for the upcoming 2019/2020 season.
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Since the early 2000s, the North Coast competition had operated under the Mid North Coast branch, ultimately keeping it afloat.
However, a number of governance requirements weren't being adequately met which meant the MNC committee weren't prepared to support it going forward.
Conversations are ongoing between the North Coast Boat Series and Surf Life Saving NSW executives on finding a resolution.
Our decision was based on our need to ensure that the best interests of the members and our committee were being met.
- Mid North Coast branch president Rod McDonagh
"We didn't just throw them under the bus, there are options for them and there has been a number of meetings held," Mid North Coast branch president Rod McDonagh said.
There are believed to be four or five different options available to the North Coast Boat Series in the current situation.
"Our decision was based on our need to ensure that the best interests of the members and our committee were being met," McDonagh said.
"We have always supported the series and encourage participation in the North Coast Boat Series and the sport in general.
"Whether that changes or not is up to those two organisations to broker that arrangement."
There has been a suggestion that the four branches involved would combine and take it on - Mid North Coast, Far North Coast, North Coast and Lower North Coast.
But McDonagh said Mid North Coast branch wouldn't underwrite the series in its current format.
"There is a need for a review of the overall future of the boat series looking at all aspects, which the boaties have acknowledged," he said.
I think your competition area is sacred because that's where you sharpen your tools and learn more about your skills.
- Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club boat sweep Tony Kee
Clubs remain confident a resolution can be found and the season will go ahead while others are preparing to pinpoint specific carnivals.
Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club boat sweep Tony Kee said nothing would change for his crew although he felt it was important to keep the local competition running.
"I think your competition area is sacred because that's where you sharpen your tools and learn more about your skills," he said.
"It probably will be a different season anyway, but I know we will pinpoint a couple of carnivals throughout the year."
Kee said the competition originally started in the early 1990s as a way of cutting down on travel for North Coast clubs.
"Crews on the North Coast found it was too far to have to travel to Gold Coast or Sydney for carnivals so the local series was a way for everyone to meet regularly," he said.
The future of the competition is now up in the air.
"We've got no control over it; it will just probably be under a new banner," he said.
Surf Life Saving NSW were contacted for comment.
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