The latest round of funding for the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF) and Club Night Lights Program (CNLP) small grants has been confirmed.
These small grants, which range from $7,500 to $500,000, will support 25 community sport and recreation facilities with essential renovations, including upgrades to changing rooms, playing facilities, and venue lighting.
In this round, 12 applications were approved for CSRFF funding, while 13 were successful under the CNLP.
Some of the key projects funded in this latest round include:
- $95,983 for the installation of a synthetic bowling green at the North Perth Bowling and Recreation Club
- $200,000 for floodlighting upgrades at Usher Park, Kalgoorlie
- $135,000 for the installation of 100 lux LED floodlighting at Ranford Oval, Canning
- $129,690 for a heat pump installation at Bridgetown Swimming Pool
These projects represent a combined investment of over $2 million for 2024/25, underscoring a significant commitment to enhancing community sporting infrastructure across Western Australia.
This follows the 2023 announcement of an additional $15 million allocated to the CSRFF over two years, increasing the annual funding to $20 million. This highlights the State Government’s dedication to providing high-quality, sustainable, and accessible community facilities across WA.
The two grant systems have existed since 2018/19 and have worked with many shires and municipalities to develop grassroots sports in WA from Skate parks to stadium expansions for basketball stadiums.
For football, clubs such as Ranford FC who will enjoy a major lighting upgrade that will enable them to hold better, safer evening training sessions and potentially night games if necessary.
Whilst the other upgrades such as surface improvements and change rooms haven’t affected football using these grants, it opens up a possibility for clubs to request vital funding that they require.
Football West in their 2023-2026 Strategic Plan touched on the importance of grants to the local clubs as it pinpoints one of their key pillars being accessibility for kids and adults of all ages and financial backgrounds.
It’s important that football continues to get invested in as it continues to grow in popularity, particularly at the grassroots level. This investment ensures that clubs can accommodate more players, promote community engagement, and sustain the sport’s development across the country.
