Published on Thursday, 10 September 2020 at 9:08:32 AM
Councillors have voiced the importance of sport and recreation in the community and supported three applications for state grant funding.
The state government’s Community Sporting & Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF) gives sporting clubs much needed assistance to develop and improve their infrastructure.
Applications for grant funding for the Aquarena, Geraldton Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) and Geraldton Hockey Association (GHA) were all approved by Council at the August Council Meeting.
CSRFF grants are available as one-third funding contributions from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries with the remaining two-thirds of project costs equally shared by the applicant and the City.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said grants were important to ensure the longevity and sustainability of sports and their facilities.
“It goes without saying, sport and recreation play a very big part of the wonderful liveability of our community,” he said.
“Councillors spoke very fondly of local sporting clubs and how important they are in our community, and the fact that some facilities were well over due for upgrades to meet the needs and demands of many sporting clubs.
“Investing in sport continues to be a high priority for the City, not just for the players, spectators, volunteers and everyone involved – but also to keep promoting larger and more prestigious state-wide sporting events.”
The City is seeking $1 million in funding to undertake renewal works to the Aquarena Outdoor Pool. Works are to renew the pool structure and its associated buried pipe hydraulic and filtration systems. Undertaking this renewal will provide a further 20 year service life to the pool.
GHA is seeking $158,697 from the grant as well as the same in a financial contribution from the City to recommission and renew its synthetic surface and shock pad on Turf 2. In addition, GHA is seeking a $158,697 self-supporting loan from the City to be paid over ten years to fund their one-third contribution.
GABA’s plan is to duplicate the Activewest Stadium which will provide four more courts. With the whole project set to cost $2.1 million, Council agreed to contribute $442,000 and provide a self-supporting loan of $550,000.
GABA president Peter Brown thanked City staff for their support and said the association is now looking forward to bringing the stadium extension to fruition.
“We hope we can now gain the support of the state government and then go onto build a facility that we can all be proud of,” he said.
“A big thank you to all the Councillors for believing in us and supporting our application. It is much appreciated by all the GABA members.”
At the July Council Meeting, Councillors also supported three other CSRFF ‘Small Grant Applications’.
The Moonyoonooka Horse and Pony Club is seeking $4,833 to upgrade the equestrian arena surface.
Geraldton Athletics Centre Inc. is seeking $11,668 to install two storage sea containers, fitted with dual access doorways and ramps, to replace their existing dilapidated storage shed.
The Geraldton Yacht Club is also looking for $43,865.40 in funding for upgrades which include enclosing the under croft of their west facing balcony and installation of fencing.
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