Sports infrastructure in Regional NSW will receive a huge boost with the NSW Government announcing $50 million towards building and improving women’s change rooms and amenities thanks to the NSW Government’s $2 million Regional Growth Fund.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee recently announced that Round Four of the $100 million Stronger Country Communities Fund will have a regional sports focus, with up to $50 million to be made available for the delivery and enhancement of women’s sporting facilities, including change rooms.
Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge applauded the government’s announcement.
“Gender neutral changerooms are a key ingredient to supporting the diversity of our game.
“Only 1 in 5 change rooms across NSW football venues are gender neutral complaint.
“The Governments dedicated funding to enhancing and upgrading change rooms in Regional NSW will greatly assist football in increasing the availability of safe and welcoming environments for women.”
Orange District Football Association, with over 2,100 registered participants, has eight venues with only four of those venues having a change room for participants. Of the four venues with change rooms, just the one change room is gender neutral. This clearly illustrates the need for to build new and upgrade change rooms and amenities in regional NSW.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup that is being held in Australia in just two and half years is an exciting opportunity for young women across NSW to aspire to. No doubt with a World Cup in our backyard women participation is going to skyrocket as girls look to mimic Sam Kerr’s backflip celebrations across the country.
The NSW Football infrastructure Strategy is based around “better facilities” and “connected communities” with Inclusive Football Facilities being one of the five major pillars from the strategy. Amenities and change rooms play a pivotal role in providing an environment for women of all ages to enjoy their football experience.
Football NSW would like to thank the Deputy Premier, John Barilaro and Acting Sport Minister, Geoff Lee on recognising the need to upgrade and build new sport infrastructure to hopefully uncover the next Matilda.
Round 4 of the Stronger Country Communities Fund will open from May 1st.
Guidelines and information about eligible applicants will be available on the Regional Growth Fund website in coming months.
A football amenities building at Orange shown here that was completed as part of the Asian Cup Legacy Fund in 2019.
