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Wellington sports clubs celebrate funding boost for better sports facilities, community participation and local jobs

Wellington sports clubs will benefit from nearly $24 million for upgraded facilities, boosting local participation, community wellbeing, and jobs through the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.

By news@gippsland - 8th July 2025 - Back to News

Dozens of regional sport clubs across Victoria including in Gippsland will score better facilities boosting participation, local communities and jobs, thanks to the Allan Labor government. Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence today announced 41 new projects will share in almost $24 million from Round 2 of the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (RCSIF), investing in women and girls' change rooms, sports courts and fields and more.

The $613,910 funding grants will upgrade Sale Tennis Club courts, add hotshots and pickleball courts, install LED lighting, new fencing, and a practice wall

Game changing investment

The Fund is a game-changer for regional Victoria, with 67 infrastructure projects and 8 participation initiatives now supported, as part of the more than $2.4 billion invested by the Labor government in community sport infrastructure. Through the fund, the following projects in the Wellington Shire were successful:

• $918,555 for the Cameron Main Oval Changeroom Refurbishment - Redevelopment of existing changerooms to include 2 player changerooms with amenities, umpire changerooms, first aid, scorers' box, office, accessible amenities and ramp at Cameron Main Oval in Maffra
• $613,910 for the Sale Tennis Club Hardcourt Redevelopment and LED Lighting Upgrade - Upgrade 4 existing plexipave hardcourts to 3 synthetic grass surface courts and 4 new hotshots and pickleball courts, upgrades to 350 lux LED lighting, with new perimeter fencing and a hit-up wall

The Community Sports Infrastructure 2024 Outcomes Statement highlights the positive impacts of projects through initiatives like the RCSIF.

Building active communities

In the past two years alone more than 330 community sport projects have increased participation by almost 43 per cent or more than 70,200 new participants, including a 19 per cent increase in junior girls playing sport. That's more people of all ages and abilities swimming, playing soccer, netball, volleyball, skateboarding, cycling and more at a range of facilities from skate parks to netball courts, close to home.

Local economies are also winners, with more than 1,170 direct full-time jobs supported in the delivery of more than $538 million worth of community sport and active recreation infrastructure across Victoria. The Victorian Budget 2025/26 is investing $20 million to continue providing new and improved community sports infrastructure through initiatives like the statewide Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, which will be open for applications in the coming months.

Uniting through sport

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said, "These projects will be a game changer for regional communities, giving them modern facilities they can be proud of."

Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh said, "These upgrades are a huge boost for local clubs and volunteers that can continue to grow and share all the amazing benefits of community sport with more and more people."

Sale Tennis Club President Robin Lowe said, "We are absolutely delighted by the announcement of our successful application to the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund. Sporting clubs are the fabric that unite our communities so the major upgrade of another part of our facility is important for the whole community. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Wellington Shire and the state government."

Pictures from Tom McIntosh MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com