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Canberra Government Launches $4 Million Grants Program to Revitalize Sporting Facilities

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Growing concerns about the lack of sporting fields in Canberra have prompted the ACT government to launch a $4 million grants program aimed at helping sporting organisations and clubs revitalise their ageing facilities. The funding will cover a variety of needs, including lighting, fixing leaky roofs, and upgrading existing infrastructure, while also addressing the issue of unused "dryland" ovals in the city's north.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ACT government has launched a $4 million grants program to help sporting organisations and clubs fix leaky roofs, improve change rooms, and upgrade lighting and other infrastructure.
  • The program aims to address the issue of unused "dryland" ovals in the city's north, with the trial at Melba fields involving juniors playing on the Melba 2 and Melba 3 fields with irrigation turned back on, some re-seeding, and freshly-painted lines.
  • Netball ACT has flagged its hope of expanding its Lyneham facility, utilising a $862,000 grant last year to fix its leaking roof on the indoor stadium and is now keen to expand the venue with more indoor courts.
  • The government's Sport and Recreation Investment Scheme is bracing for an influx of applications, including more work as Netball ACT plans to grow its Lyneham base.
  • Netball ACT received $7.5 million from the government two years ago to remediate five district playing courts, but chief executive Sally Clark said some areas were outgrowing their space.
  • The government has committed to four new indoor basketball courts at Casey, and new high schools are required to have double gymnasiums with competition-level floors to cater for community sports.
  • ACT Sport Minister Yvette Berry encouraged sports clubs and organisations to tap into the funding made available, with applications closing on October 17.

Statistics:

  • $4 million: Size of the grants program launched by the ACT government
  • $862,000: Amount of grant utilised by Netball ACT last year to fix its leaking roof on the indoor stadium at Lyneham
  • $7.5 million: Amount of grant received by Netball ACT from the government two years ago to remediate five district playing courts
  • 8-10: Number of netball courts that will soon be completed at Jacka with lights
  • 4: Number of new indoor basketball courts at Casey that the government has committed to building

Sources:

  • The Canberra Times, "ACT government to trial $4 million overhaul of unused dryland ovals"
  • Netball ACT, "Netball ACT awarded $862,000 grant for Lyneham facility"
  • Government of the Australian Capital Territory, "Sport and Recreation Investment Scheme"
  • The Canberra Times, "Basketball ACT and government agree on new stadium"

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