The Echuca United Football Netball Club is one of twenty-six football and netball clubs set to benefit from facility and ground upgrades, thanks to a Victorian Government funding program to help improve football and netball facilities across the state.
Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad, said the club would receive $60,000 to construct two new asphalt netball courts adjacent to the football oval and change rooms as part of the latest round of the $11.2 million Country Football and Netball Program, a joint State Government and AFL initiative.
“The funding will help communities upgrade and improve the football and netball facilities which are regularly used by locals to play, train and attend matches,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad said twenty-four projects would share in more than $1.1 million and benefit not just the members of the twenty-six clubs, but the whole community; including local schools and community groups.
“We want to make it easier for all the players, coaches, umpires and supporters to stay involved in the games they love, while encouraging the community to lead healthy and active lifestyles,” Ms Broad said.
“Local football and netball clubs in regional and rural areas give people the chance to play sport and become an active member of the community, so it’s important to support the great job they do.”
Sport and Recreation Minister, James Merlino said the Brumby Labor Government was proud of its investment to improve country football and netball clubs.
“As we recently saw after Black Saturday, local sport has a real power to bring communities together – in good times and in bad,” Mr Merlino said.
“That’s why we’re delighted to have invested more than $10.4 million towards 275 projects since the Country Football Netball Program was created.
“In doing so, we’re ensuring that all Victorians have access to quality sporting facilities so they can get involved and stay connected to their communities, in good times and bad,” he said.
For more information about the Country Football and Netball Program, visit www.sport.vic.gov.au.