Photo: Nillumbik Shire Council

This funding is part of a recently pledged $2.76 million package of AFL funding to dozens of local football facility projects across Victoria. Sixty-two projects will receive funding which will help generate $97 million total new investment in local football facilities.

Projects that best link directly to AFL Victoria’s Football Facilities Development Strategy, support female football and increase ground capacity to cater for our ever-growing participation have been successful in securing part of the $2.76 million funding allocation.

Mayor of Brimbank, Cr Margaret Giudice said that Council is very pleased that funding is being provided towards making substantial improvements to sporting facilities in Brimbank.

“The funding from AFL Victoria would assist Council in creating clean, safe and accessible facilities that support the growing levels of female sport participation in our community.

“The works will involve the upgrade of existing change rooms into female friendly change rooms with new toilets, showers, amenities, flooring and umpire’s room.

“Council expects the change room upgrades across the three sports reserves will continue to boost participation in sport for people of all ages, abilities and gender.

“This is important work – we know that improvements to sport facilities have a real and measurable impact on female sport participation and levels of physical activity – supporting everyone in our community to live healthy and active lives.

“As a responsive Council, we are committed to providing well located and accessible sporting facilities that contribute to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of our community,” Cr Giudice said.

AFL Victoria CEO, Steven Reaper said the funding was just one of many initiatives supporting grass roots football and was key in ensuring all Victorians have the opportunity to participate in football across the state.

“Community football is the lifeblood of our sport and with our participation rates growing year on year and with female football booming, the provision of welcoming facilities that can cater for this growth is critical,” he said.

“Whether it is new lights, oval surface upgrades or female friendly change rooms, these spaces require upgrades so that our volunteer led clubs can continue to deliver their incredibly important services to their communities,” he said.