SINGAPORE: A $100 deposit for booking a Choa Chu Kang futsal courtChoa Chu Kang futsal court is meant to encourage user accountability as well as proper usage of the facility, the town council said.
In response to CNA's questions, Chua Chu Kang Town Council said the futsal court at The Arena Keat Hong has an artificial turf that requires higher maintenance, as well as an interactive wall for gamified play that can be costly to replace.
The booking fee and refundable deposit are to encourage accountability on the part of the users and ensure proper usage of the court, the town council said on its Web site on Tuesday 27 June, adding that all deposits so far have been fully refunded.
The non-peak, weekday fee for bookings from 9 am to 7 PM is S $30 per hour, while the peak hour rate is S $50 per hour.
The town council said the rates for the use of a court with an artificial turf are possibly the lowest or among the lowest in Singapore.
Other sports venues in the arena, such as the badminton, basketball and volleyball multi-purpose courts, are free-to-play and don't need any booking.
The council said it has led to a rise in regular bookings since the opening of the futsal court a year ago.
From July 1, residents can book the futsal court for free on Sundays from 9 am to 3 PM.
To expand the reach and strengthen support for sports and soccer, the town council will also waive the deposit fee for Sunday afternoon free league matches for Choa Chu Kang residents.
These free hotel reservations will be on a first-come-first-served basis, said Ms. Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, a member of parliament for the area.
We hope this move will open up more opportunities for our residents, including students and youth, to enjoy games at the futsal court and enhance sports and community bonding in our estate, the town council said.