SGL consultants – the firm hired to conduct the Young Shire Sporting Needs Study – have come and gone through town, releasing a final questionnaire before they prepare their report.

The questionnaire – which closes this Wednesday – does not only apply to local sporting clubs and sporting enthusiasts but every Young resident who has used or will use a sporting facility at some stage.

“We would love everyone’s input so we know the direction to take,” Young Sports Advisory Committee chairman Councillor Ben Cooper said.

“The sports committee wants everyone, not just sporting clubs, to fill out the questionnaire. What we want are the likes of sporting coordinators, for example, to have a say… anyone who uses or organises for others to use facilities,” he said.

Last June Young Shire Council allocated $25,000 in their 2013-2014 budget for a consultant, which saw the committee rally clubs and sporting bodies to have input into a brief.

SGL were in Young for two days in February inspecting facilities, meeting with most sporting bodies and conducting phone interviews with others.

With the questionnaire now released, Cr Cooper said there is a particular focus on a cross-section of people in Young to have a say, including the youth.

“They’re the ones who will be using the facilities in the future,” he said.

Included in the questionnaire are questions around the quality and amount of facilities, disability access, it also asked people the main reasons they use facilities and for them to rate those  facilities.

Young High School Year 12 student Joel McKenzie has completed the questionnaire, saying it only took him seven minutes.

While admitting it was embarrassing when visiting teams to town used the facilities because of the state they were in, he said, “plus we play so we also want good facilities”.

Fellow Year 12 student Caitlin Green – another to complete the questionnaire – said a multipurpose facility would be good for the town.

Local sport coordinator Peter Lister is another reiterate the importance of input into the questionnaire.

“It actually asks you for your opinion on how you would do up the facilities if you were given the money to do it. I thought that was a very good subjective question,” Peter said.

Cr Cooper said there was also very minimal disability access in town, something of which stood out during the Young Relay For Life event at Cranfield Oval last month.

The councillor said he is very happy with the study so far.

“Because it’s provided an avenue for all sporting bodies to be involved in the process for putting sport on the agenda in the shire and they’ve worked together to improve sport in general for the residents of Young,” he said.

“That’s what’s impressed me, all sporting bodies have been involved and have shown respect for other clubs and their needs as well… it’s been a team effort really.

“I would like to thank the great members of the Sports Advisory Committee for their enthusiasm and energy in ensuring this process has occurred.”

Visit www.sglgroup.net/questionnaire/ YOUNG to fill out the questionnaire before Wednesday, April 16.