New grants to improve clubs’ infrastructure, facilities

APPLICATIONS have opened for a new fund aimed to help local sports clubs update their infrastructure and facilities to get more people to take part in sport.

The Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (RCSIF) has funding of up to $60 million available.

It is supported through the Regional Community Sport Development Fund and the All-Abilities Sport Fund following consultation with regional communities, who called for support for new infrastructure and upgraded facilities.

Regional sporting clubs and community organisations are encouraged to work with their local council or Alpine Resorts Victoria to bring their best ideas forward and make their club accessible and future-ready for generations to come.

The four streams cover a wider variety of upgrades to suit a range of clubs:

• Up to $3 million to develop or upgrade multi-sport indoor courts and aquatic facilities through the Indoor Stadium and Aquatic Facilities
• Stream Grants up to $1 million through the Community Facilities Stream to build or upgrade sports pavilions, sports lighting, play spaces and active recreation facilities
• The Women and Girls Facilities Stream has grants of up to $1 million for new female-friendly change rooms or sports courts to help level the playing field, and
• A dedicated All Abilities Infrastructure stream, offered for the first time, that will provide grants of up to $1 million to renovate existing facilities to ensure they are accessible for people with disability.

Complementary grants of up to $50,000 are also available to help boost wider community participation at the upgraded facilities, in partnership with sporting organisations and local disability service providers.

The fund encourages regional clubs to design the facilities that matter to their local teams and community, with a focus on getting more people involved regardless of their age, gender, background or ability.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence opened applications for the first round of the RCSIF earlier this month.

“Sport is really important to Victorians and this is especially true in our regional towns – this fund will ensure local sporting clubs have the best facilities and infrastructure to get everyone in their community involved,” she said.

“We have fantastic towns all over regional Victoria and local sporting clubs are a big part of a town’s identity – by upgrading their facilities and removing barriers to entry, even more people will be able to get involved with their local sporting club.”

“Through the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund we are making sure regional Victorians of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and genders can be part of the big local sporting events that bring communities together.”

For more information on the RCSIF or to apply before March 27, head to sport.vic.gov.au