Councillors voted 4-3 last week to impose a summer user fee on the clubs despite the amount not being included in the council's budget, which was tracking healthier than expected.

The decision sparked backlash, with one cricket club president saying it would cause financial stress for clubs who hadn't budgeted for the fees because council hadn't budgeted for them to be paid.

East Warrnambool-YCW president Luke Smith had described the decision as a shock after the COVID-hit clubs lost sponsors during the pandemic and its revenue stream from bar sales dried up due to the restrictions.

When asked if the councillors could overturn its decision, the council said that in accordance with rule 65 of the council's governance rules, a resolution of council that has been actioned cannot be rescinded through a Notice of Motion to Rescind process.

Clubs have begun receiving the bills which the council agenda said totaled $36,299, but when they arrived they included GST which means the total amount is almost $40,000.

Clubs were charged either $2017, $4033 and $6050 plus GST.

The council said no clubs had yet sought a discount of the fees because of hardship but one had sought clarification on the make-up for the fees.

"Another club was meeting with council staff to discuss a range of matters including maintenance, shared oval use with another club and a wicket upgrade," the council said.

Merrivale Cricket Club president Bill Fary said the clubs had written to the council seeking clarification about about the consistency in the way they have charged fees this year.

Mr Fary said the council had split costs for some clubs because they were sharing facilities but Merrivale was still being charged the full amount even though they too had shared facilities with other clubs.

Merrivale is charged user fees of just over $2000 for its junior games on Harris Street's hard wicket and just over $4000 when they play at Merrivale's turf wicket.

He said Wesley-CBC had also used Harris Street when under COVID rules they couldn't use Allan Oval because it was a school facility, while East Warrnambool also played at least one home game there too.

"If we're going to pay full top dollar and someone else is using it going halves I don't see why have to pay a full amount," Mr Fary said.

"We were happy to pay what their fees were, we're just not happy some other clubs where East and Nestles are sharing Jones Oval and they're playing half the full fee."

"We just want consistency," he said.

He said it would have been nice to get a discount because they shared facilities with other clubs.

Dennington Cricket Club president Mick Howley said the fees were a little disappointing in the current climate but they have maintained the oval so we have to pay for that.

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