COUNTRY FOOTY NETBALL FINALS KICKSTART WITH NEW GRANTS

As community winter sports players head towards finals season, the Andrews Labor Government is backing home-grown football and netball teams with more grants to upgrade local facilities across Victoria.

Member for Ripon Martha Haylett has welcomed Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence’s announcement that the 2023-24 Country Football and Netball Program is now open for applications.

Grants of up to $250,000 are available to make more sport infrastructure developments possible including court and oval lighting upgrades, changeroom developments and new pavilions for local clubs and communities.

This funding helps more clubs make important upgrades to facilities to ensure more players, coaches, umpires, and supporters of all abilities can get involved in local sport. Local footy and netball clubs in eligible areas are encouraged to speak to their local councils to apply for program funding.

Previous successful projects in Ripon include $185,500 for brand new oval lighting at the Newlyn Recreation Reserve.

The Victorian Budget 2023/24 is providing more than $213 million to deliver new and improved community sport infrastructure and support initiatives that boost participation and inclusion in local sports clubs and organisations.

The Program is a partnership with the AFL, AFL Victoria, and Netball Victoria. Since 2005, more than $37.5 million has been invested in more than 560 projects across the state.

It’s also part of the more than $1.9 billion the Labor Government has invested in community sport and recreation infrastructure since 2014.

Applications close on 9 October 2023. For more information on the program and to apply, visit sport.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Member for Ripon Martha Haylett

“Sporting clubs are the heart of our rural and regional communities – it’s important they are accessible for all and suitable for use for our players, coaches, umpires and supporters.”

“I know so many of our beloved football and netball clubs are eager to do some much-needed repairs to their courts, ovals, pavilions and changerooms. I have written to all our clubs in Ripon encouraging them to apply for this funding.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence 

“Better facilities allow clubs to take on more players, host more events and draw bigger crowds, creating a real buzz in the community and boosting local economies."