Wednesday, 31 May 2023

Sports clubs funding

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (17:58): (264) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Community Sport. After having already been raised as a question on 23 March, I firstly wish to draw the minister’s attention to the lack of resolve on the matter. The original question sought an explanation as to why grassroots football clubs who are attached to leagues not affiliated with the AFL are unable to access the same grants as those who are. Some of these clubs serve as community centres and emergency evacuation hubs and are in desperate need of facility upgrades. As these clubs do not have the option to affiliate themselves with the AFL if their respective leagues choose not to, they are at a distinct disadvantage not of their own making.

The original question was in reference to the Katandra football club. Their pivotal central hub serves as the only community centre in the district. They are currently making do with highly inadequate lighting for the football oval and are unable to safely conduct after-hours sports, training or events. This is an incredibly active group of volunteers who wish to encourage more social gatherings, particularly targeting those who are vulnerable to isolation and those only available outside of daylight hours. To facilitate this outstanding initiative, the club is looking for an avenue to secure funding for said lighting. As my original question was misdirected to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, then subsequently handballed to the Minister for Community Sport, I request that the Minister for Community Sport treat this as a matter of urgency in order to inform the Katandra West community how best to proceed.