The NSW Government has announced the first projects to be funded through the city shaping $2 billion WestInvest Community Project Grants Program, with more than $44.7 million allocated to Burwood and Canterbury-Bankstown Councils.
As part of the WestInvest Fund, $2 billion was reserved for priority Community Projects, this included $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas in West and South West Sydney, with each local council eligible for between $20 million and $35 million, depending on population size.
The swathe of projects included in the Local Government Allocation, which will be announced in coming weeks, will deliver enormous benefits across West and South West Sydney, including:
- At least 13 new and revitalised parks
- At least seven activated high streets
- More than 15 new and upgraded community centres
- Nine upgraded sports grounds and fields
- More than 25km of new walking and cycling tracks
- More than nine new BMX and skating tracks and parks
- Thousands of new trees and greenery.
Football has received it’s first project under the WestInvest Fund in the Burwood local government area.
Henley Park, home of Enfield Rovers Football Club will receive $2.734 million for the revitalisation of two aged sports field (fields 3 and 4) to improve sport and recreational facilities.
Projects in Burwood and Canterbury-Bankstown LGA’s have announced some initial projects with more announcements to come in the coming weeks and months.
Enfield Rovers Football club was established in 1961, they are a volunteer-driven community club, which is part of the Canterbury District Soccer Football Association (CDSFA). In the 2022 winter season the club had 601 registered players, with 23% of the participants being female.
With Australia and New Zealand hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in less than 12 months’ time female football participation is set spike. The development and embellishment of Henley Park through the WestInvest Fund will allow Enfield Rovers to attract more females to their club and help to achieve Football Australia strategic goal of 50/50 gender parity by 2027.
This new injection of funding from WestInvest will ensure Henley Park becomes a premium venue in the CDSFA footprint and will complete the site.
Henley Park over the last few years have seen works that include:
- New irrigation and subsoil drainage system (field 1 and 2)
- Regrading of the existing contours of the playing fields
- Laying of new high quality turf (field 1 and 2)
- New small sided synthetic field
- An upgrade and renovation to the existing amenity building.
At the completion of the works from the WestInvest funding Henley Park will have a facility envious of many community football clubs across NSW.