Sporting facilities across the Surf Coast could receive additional funding to improve safety and inclusivity if Australian Football League grant applications are successful.
Surf Coast Shire Council will submit an Australian Football Facilities Fund (AFFF) application to upgrade Spring Creek Reserve’s change facilities to include female-friendly change rooms.
Councillor Rose Hodge said the demand for female and junior sports was growing in Torquay, placing more pressure on sporting grounds.
“Providing change facilities that can easily accommodate our female football and cricket players at Spring Creek reserve is a must for our growing town,” she said.
“Upgrading these grounds and facilities will allow our sporting teams to have room to train and not be sharing grounds with older teams or training at inconvenient times.
“Being able to enable more females to keep playing sports they love with well-developed facilities ensures the continued growth and success of the Torquay Football, Netball and Cricket clubs.”
The Spring Creek Reserve Female Friendly Change Facilities Project will upgrade existing change rooms to include gender-neutral shower and toilet cubicles.
Council will also submit grant applications for the Breaking New Ground Fund (BNGF) for new lighting at the Bellbrae Reserve Sports Ground and an open space upgrade at Torquay College.
The AFFF fund provides $50,000 for the project delivery stage, with the BNFG providing $50,000 for planning and up to $250,000 for the project delivery stage.
More information about Surf Coast Shire’s projects can be found on council’s website.
