FLOOD affected sports facilities, programs and sporting organisations in the Upper Hunter Electorate will get a share of $36 million to put community sport back on the field.
The Essential Community Sport Assets Program is jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, as part of the broader Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package (CLIRP).
Funding has been awarded to four projects at Singleton, Muswellbrook and Paterson to repair and rebuild damaged facilities impacted by the February or June 2022 floods.
Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell said investment in the repair and rebuild of key community infrastructure was an investment in the long-term resilience of families across the electorate.
“We all saw the devastating impact of last year’s floods on our local communities,” Mr Layzell said.
“This program is an opportunity for our community to come together and heal long-term, while allowing our kids to get back to a sense of normality.
“We also need to ensure our beloved community facilities are more resilient in the future, to support the vibrant grassroots sporting culture throughout the Upper Hunter Electorate.”
The Essential Community Sport Assets Program offered grants across two streams with between $150,000 to $1 million available to Councils in 74 Local Government Areas (LGAs), and grants of $15,000 to $500,000 available to sporting organisations and other groups that deliver sports programs.
Over $2.7 million worth of grants have been awarded to the Upper Hunter Electorate including:
· $1m to Singleton Council for urgent repair of significant damage to the Singleton Netball Courts, ensuring Singleton Netball Association can safely participate in future netball seasons;
· $968,348 for Muswellbrook Shire Council to undertake resilience works at Karoola Park, improving public safety particularly for children playing sport or accessing the park and traversing to school;
· $485,403 to the Northern Agricultural Association Inc. for improvement of the Singleton showground centre ring surface, adding drainage and irrigation works and replacing the fence around the centre ring; and,
· $250,000 for Paterson Golf Club’s Cart Access Project to repair and upgrade the course’s earthen track network with all-weather concrete paths.
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said these projects would breathe new life into sporting clubs in flood-affected communities.
“The NSW Government has already delivered $12 million in grants to help rebuild and repair community sport infrastructure in eight priority LGAs that were affected by flooding,” Mr Henskens said.
“This additional boost, jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government, will improve or upgrade 96 community sporting facilities across NSW, helping people of all ages get back on the field and playing the sports they love.”
For further information on the Essential Community Sport Assets Program, visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/sport-infrastructure-recovery-fund
PICTURE CAPTION: Dave Layzell and Deputy Premier Paul Toole inspecting damage to the Singleton netball courts in January 2023.
