Bathurst football clubs are set to benefit from the NSW Football Legacy Fund with $125,000 in funding for new lighting at Police Paddock.
Bathurst District Football is one 29 clubs, associations and council that have benefitted from Round 1 of the NSW Football Legacy Fund.
Police Paddock is a vital piece of open space for the Bathurst sporting community particular football.
“A key pillar of the NSW Football Legacy Fund is improving existing venue capacity,” said Football NSW Manager – Government Relations, Funding, and Infrastructure, Daniel Ristic.
“New LED lighting at Proctor Park will create new opportunities for Bathurst District Football and will increase capacity for evening training during the winter months.”
Participation in the Bathurst region has grown by 15% between 2020 and 2022, with females experiencing the same amount of growth in the same period.
With the growth in participants brings a greater need for quality facilities, in particular evening training in the winter months. The new LED lighting will allow Bathurst District Football to continue its growth from the last few years.
Males and females of all ages will now have a safe and secure place to conduct training sessions during the winter months.
Sports lighting allows players of all ages and abilities to train safely at night and can provide the opportunity to play competition football providing flexibility in scheduling.
Bathurst District Football will contribute $185,000 towards the LED lighting upgrade.
The project will see new lighting towers installed, retrofitting of four existing poles with new LED lights. It will also include the installation of a remote e-state control system which will allow for full remote control and monitoring of the lighting system.
LED sportsfield lighting will offer great energy savings for Bathurst District Football, providing savings up to 60%. LEDs are long lasting, durable and require lower maintenance.
Players, referees, volunteers, and spectators will enjoy a better experience at Police Paddock well into the future.
About the Legacy Fund Participation and Infrastructure Grants
The NSW Government recently announced a $3.1 million investment into more than 100 grassroots football projects across the state to help improve facilities and run programs to boost player participation as part of the NSW Football Legacy Fund.
The investment is intended to broaden female player options and increase participation opportunities, whilst enhancing football facilities and supporting infrastructure. This fund also aims to assist clubs in developing football programs at all levels through the construction or upgrading of community facilities, leadership, and development initiatives.
As Australia prepares to host the 20203 FIFA Women’s World Cup, strengthening the football community in NSW is key to matching the unprecedented level of interest in female football. The NSW Football Legacy Fund seeks to ensure it has the facilities and programming to match the buzz that the FIFA World Cup is generating for Australia’s next generation of future Matilda’s
More information about the NSW Football Legacy Fund is available here.
