Each year sports clubs across the region pay a fee to both council and the Sports Council for a number of reasons, including maintenance of fields and facilities, which typically equates to just under $50,000.

However, this year is different, with clubs not required to foot any of the associated costs.

"What happens is $23,000 of the $46,000 goes towards the Sports Council to operate the council in relation to providing some support for any number of things," councillor, John O'Neill said.

"The other $23,000 goes into council to continue to maintain the fields and help cover some costs."

With typical fundraising efforts being suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, councillor O'Neill said it would, understandably, be difficult for any club to afford council fees while maintaining viability.

"We can't have sports running at a loss," he said.

"At the end of the day it's a strange world we're currently living in, and we've all just got to adapt to help everyone through.

"All of the councillors know the importance of supporting not only our sports, but our whole community."

Should a similar fate be had by the region's summer sports, councillor O'Neill says he will once again submit a motion regarding the topic of Sports Council fees.

"I will be doing exactly the same thing for those summer sports that would be impacted," he said.

"We're very lucky to be number one in the area we live in. Kudos to the council in relation to being in a position to be able to financially support the community as we have. There are a lot of other councils who wouldn't be able to do what we do simply because they haven't got the funds to do so.

"It's a true credit to the council."