Sports

Grounds for concern: Lights out with new booking system offline

The lights are off and no one's home in the ACT government's new online booking system for sports grounds, which is suffering teething problems.

Some sports and clubs have been unable to book grounds since the new system was introduced at the start of October as they wait for the government to iron out the glitches.

As a result, the lights don't come on because the booking hasn't been made.

Canberra sports are struggling to book grounds with the new system.

Canberra sports are struggling to book grounds with the new system.Credit:Jamila Toderas

It won't be a problem later in summer, but in the early days of daylight savings it means practice for some clubs, like the Brindabella Blues Football Club, ends early at Calwell.

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ACT Oztag also use the Calwell grounds, but have been unaffected because they booked in their summer requirements before the new system kicked in.

But it opens the door for double bookings, with multiple users potentially turning up at the same venue at the same time expecting to use the same grounds.

It couldn't come at a worse time as the summer sports begin to ramp up over the next two weeks.

The Canberra Times shone a spotlight on problems surrounding ACT sporting facilities earlier in the year with the Grounds for concern series.

Canberra's sports grounds are currently bulging, with demand from a growing population exceeding supply.

The government said there were "some minor issues" with the transfer of data to the new system, but it's believed the issue is bookings can't be made.

"A new, user-friendly sports ground booking system was brought online in early October 2018. The system provides vastly improved access to information and a comprehensive booking portal for sporting users," a directorate spokeswoman said.

"Some minor issues have arisen with the transfer of existing data into the new system.

"The booking system developer is based in Canberra and is actively working with Sport and Recreation to fix issues as they are identified.

"Sport and Recreation are unaware of any instances of multiple sporting groups turning up to the same ground, but have arrangements in place to assist in resolving any double bookings or other issues and ensuring sporting groups are not inconvenienced."

David Polkinghorne covers the Canberra Raiders, local rugby league, Canberra Cavalry, racing and cycling, along with every other sport, for The Canberra Times.

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