Facilities
Community
AFL Vic welcomes State Govt support for local footy
10 MAY 2024 BY: AFL VICTORIA
The $10.6m redevelopment of Reid Oval, Warrnambool is a shining example of stakeholders including state government coming together to deliver a wonderful outcome for the community. Photo: Warrnambool City Council
AFL Victoria welcomes the Victorian Government’s support for local sport and footy, with the recently released state budget committing investment towards a number of important programs.
The budget confirmed the continuation of the Country Football and Netball Program - a long-standing partnership between the State Government, AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria spanning nearly two decades - which provides funding to assist country football and netball clubs, associations and umpiring organisations to improve facilities in rural, regional and outer metropolitan locations.
Established in 2005, the program supports upgrades such as ground resurfacing, the installation of lighting, safer netball courts and new pavilions with accessible and female-friendly change rooms for players and umpires.
The program has delivered more than $35 million to support more than 550 projects across the state. It is part of the State Government's $17.5 million commitment to grassroots sport.
In a further boost for local footy and families, $6 million is going towards extending the Get Active Kids Vouchers program, to help cover the cost of kids playing sport in priority groups.
Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan, said: “I want to acknowledge the State Government's commitment to supporting grassroots sport, which will help communities, families and participants involved in Australian rules football across the state.
"Footy is the heartbeat of so many towns and communities across Victoria and is a big part of the lives of so many people, from kids participating in NAB AFL Auskick through to senior local footy, as well as umpires, coaches and volunteers who are incredibly important to the game.
"The continuation of the Country Football Netball Program will play a big part in addressing the need for communities to have access to fit-for-purpose infrastructure at their local sporting clubs, while the Get Active Kids Sports program provides very real and much needed support for so many families, particularly in these times where cost of living is major consideration for many Victorians."
Click here for the media release from the Minister for Community Sport, the Hon Ros Spence.
The AFL recently announced that it has set its sights on doubling participation in the game to one million registered participants by 2033, with that ambition to be fuelled by $1 billion of investment into game development and community football in that time.
To cater for the game's growth, the AFL is committed to build or developing an oval per week through new or upgraded facilities. The Victorian Government's commitment to community sport infrastructure helps to drive this ambition.
