The world game will get bigger and better for Victoria’s next generation of soccer stars with the Victorian Government announcing a significant boost to grassroots football facilities.
Victorian Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence revealed that more than $4.9 million in grants would be awarded to 13 projects through the World Game Facilities Fund, continuing the good news for the sport following confirmation that Australia will co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Among the projects backed by the 2019-20 round of the Fund, $500,000 will go towards a new pavilion and pitch lighting at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve.
Once complete, the pavilion will feature female friendly change rooms, a referees room, canteen, accessible toilet and first aid and storage rooms. Along with the installation of 100-lux lighting, the Wonthaggi United Soccer Club will have a new home ground advantage for its growing number of junior and female members.
Other allocations include $400,000 towards a new pavilion at the home of the Hume Spears Sports Club – at Seth Raistrick Recreation Reserve in Campbellfield – and more than $185,000 towards new lighting at McIvor Reserve, Yarraville – the home of the Yarraville Glory Football Club.
Since 2018, the World Game Facilities Fund has invested $9.9 million in 38 game-changing infrastructure projects with a total project value of $25.5 million. The 2020-21 World Game Facilities Fund will open for applications in November (2020).
This phase of the fund will provide grants of up to $500,000 to councils and alpine resort boards to improve facilities including lighting, turf pitch redevelopments, synthetic pitches and female friendly change rooms.
The Victorian Government has invested more than $915 million in community sport and recreation infrastructure since 2014.
Source: Vic Government