In late 2018 the State Government announced the Community Building Partnerships Grant for 2018 with football clubs across NSW benefitting with much needed funding for facility improvements at local community venues.
The grants primary role is to invest in infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreation outcomes, while promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.
In 2018, incorporated not for profit community organisations and local councils were eligible to apply for grants between $2,500 and $330,000.
Each state member of parliament in NSW awarded projects in their individual electorate.
A total of 43 football projects from Tweed to Shellharbour received funding which accumulated to an investment of over $1 million to local footballing communities.
Projects included; lighting upgrades, amenity upgrades, car parking refurbishments, improved disability access and other valuable projects that football clubs require to meet the community needs.
Football is the largest team sport in Australia and NSW as confirmed once again by the latest AusPlay statistics that were released in October 2018. With a large participation base grant funding such as the Community Building Partnerships Program greatly assists football clubs in improving the football experience for over almost 400,000 participants.
Congratulations to all clubs and councils that were successful and let’s hope the refurbishments are ready for the start of the 2019 football season.
See list below of all football projects in NSW.
| Community Building Partnership Grants 2018 | |||
| State Electorate | Association/Club/Council | Project Description | Amount |
| Bankstown | Bankstown City FC | Mobile Canteen | $40,000 |
| Blacktown | Blacktown City Council | Equipment Storage Building | $60,000 |
| Cabramatta | Bonnyrigg White Eagles | Stadium Entry Building | $22,000 |
| Cessnock | Greta Branxton FC | Extend Concrete for Wheelchair Access, Upgrade Fencing and Dugouts | $15,000 |
| Cessnock | West Wallsend FC | Ride on Mower | $14,000 |
| Charlestown | Dudley Redhead United Football Club | Disability Access Improvement Works – Stage 3 | $17,531 |
| Charlestown | Valentine Eleebana SC | Eleebana Oval Resurfacing | $14,938 |
| Charlestown | Newcastle City Council | Installation of Floodlight Poles and Associated Infrastructure at Kotara Park | $15,000 |
| Charlestown | Charlestown City Blues FC | New Electronic Scoreboard | $26,000 |
| Coffs Harbour | Northern Storm Football and Sports Club Inc. | Modified Shipping Container Canteen | $14,000 |
| Heffron | Mascot Kings Soccer Club | New Canteen and Female/Disabled Amenities Facilities | $70,000 |
| Holsworthy | Liverpool City Robins FC Sports Club | Car Park Lighting | $5,182 |
| Holsworthy | Southern Districts Soccer FA | New lights for Ernir Smith Reserve Field 2 | $50,000 |
| Kiera | Bellambi FC | New/Upgrade lighting at Elizabeth Park | $11,000 |
| Lake Macquarie | South Cardiff FC | Wet Weather Disability Path and Field Leveling | $35,514 |
| Liverpool | Southern Districts Soccer Referees | Air Conditioning for Club House at Durrant Oval | $5,118 |
| Londonderry | Blacktown City Council | Ropes Crossing Reserve – Lighting Upgrade | $47,500 |
| Londonderry | Henry Lawson FC | Refurbishment of Amenities Block | $30,000 |
| Macquarie Fields | Eschol Park FC | New pathway lighting to Eschol Park | $10,000 |
| Miranda | Georges River FC | Upgrade of Existing Facilities | $35,000 |
| Mount Druitt | Blacktown City Council | Popondetta Park – Construct Equipment Storage Building | $60,000 |
| Mount Druitt | Polonia Sports Club | New rainwater tanks, irrigation system and field repair | $48,339 |
| Mulgoa | Glenmore Park FC | New BBQ Facilities | $20,000 |
| Mulgoa | Kemps Creek United SC | Bill Anderson Reserve – Seating and Awning – Stage 2 | $15,000 |
| Myall Lakes | Tinonee SC | New Awning, LED Lighting Installation and Upgrade Existing Lighting to LED | $9,470 |
| Myall Lakes | Tuncurry Forster FC | New Lighting and Spectator Facilities at Tuncurry Sports Complex | $13,000 |
| Newcastle | Newcastle Macedonia FC | Lighting to Sporting Field Broadmeadow Magic | $30,000 |
| Pittwater | Pittwater RSL FC | Clubhouse Changing Rooms Upgrade | $6,246 |
| Port Macquarie | Camden Haven SC | Public Address System | $14,800 |
| Port Macquarie | Moorland Soccer Club | Solar Panelling | $10,402 |
| Rockdale | Georges River Council | Claydon Reserve Sports Amenities Building | $29,845 |
| Shellharbour | Football South Coast | Ian McLennan Park – Amenities Refurbishment | $25,000 |
| Shellharbour | Lakeside Lions Junior Soccer Club | Fencing to Protect Child Safety | $20,000 |
| Swansea | Swansea FC | Construct an Area for Benches for Spectators Including Disabled Spectators | $25,000 |
| Swansea | Belmont Swansea United FC | Blacksmiths Oval Facility Upgrade – Install Sheltered Spectator Tiered Seating | $25,731 |
| Tweed | Tumbulgum Rangers Sports Club | Training Wall | $16,000 |
| Wakehurst | Manly Warringah FA | Replace and Expand Public Address System | $17,085 |
| Willoughby | Northbridge FC | Northbridge Oval Seating | $40,000 |
| Wollondilly | Picton Rangers SC | Upgrade Hume Oval Car Park | $10,000 |
| Wollongong | Coniston FC and Illawarra United Stingrays Womens FC | Awning and Undercover Seating at JJ Kelly Park | $20,000 |
| Wollongong | Port Kembla SC | Installation of Covered Seating for Wetherall Park | $20,000 |
| Wollongong | University of Wollongong FC Juniors | Goal Upgrades – Junior Grades | $5,000 |
| Wollongong | Wollongong United FC | Additional Football Fields at Macedonia Park | $20,000 |
