Former Erina Leagues president banned and fined over conflict findings

Former Erina Rugby League Football Club president James Savage has been barred from senior positions at NSW clubs for 12 months and ordered to pay $32,000 in penalties and investigation costs.

The NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority upheld a complaint arising from work at Erina Leagues Club and found Savage was not a fit and proper person to run the club.

Liquor and Gaming NSW investigated concerns that construction work was awarded to companies owned by Savage without proper disclosures, competitive quotes or tender processes.

The authority found a deck initially approved at $90,000 was ultimately awarded to Savbuilt and JDS Building Services, both linked to Savage, for more than $450,000. It also noted that $80,000 was paid to Savbuilt and another business between October 2022 and January 2023 without tenders or quotes being provided to the board before work began.

Savage said the club had been in poor financial condition when he took over and maintained his actions had saved it money. The authority said those submissions did not address the disclosure and procurement failures it identified.

Savage can appeal the finding to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. He declined to comment, citing legal reasons.

Erina Leagues Club said it took its obligations seriously and regularly reviewed its governance protocols, but declined to comment further because Savage was a former official.