- 52 football venue changerooms around Perth will
be retrofitted or upgraded
- Funding contribution by the Government will help
make it happen
- Project aims to create safe and inclusive
community sporting facilities
A million dollars in
funding by the Cook Government will be used to support a project to retrofit
and upgrade changeroom facilities at dozens of community football venues
throughout the Perth metropolitan area.
The money from the Community
Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF) will be added to funding from
the WA Football Facilities Fund and the West Coast Eagles Royalty Reserve to
renovate 52 player and umpire changerooms.
The project, spearheaded
by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) and Perth Football League
(PFL) in collaboration with 22 local governments, aims to create a safer and
more inclusive environment at community sporting venues.
This project focusing on
metropolitan Perth follows on from similar retrofitting initiatives in regional
areas of WA already carried out or being planned.
Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"The changeroom
facilities at our community sporting venues must meet community standards and
expectations and this funding will go a long way to achieving that goal.
"With female
participation in sport growing at a rapid rate, the Government is responding to
the need for safe and appropriate changing facilities for all genders, ages and
abilities."
Comments attributed to Victoria Park MLA Hannah Beazley:
"This is a fantastic announcement for local football clubs that will
allow more girls and people of all abilities to join in and play.
"The Cook Government is 100 per cent committed to improving accessibility
to sporting facilities to ensure everyone has a chance to partake in sports."
Comments attributed to WAFC CEO Michael Roberts:
"Football continues to be the choice of sport for most Australians.
"We have experienced a rapid growth of 14.9 per cent in female Auskick
participants from last year, and the PFL is the largest women's competition in
Australia.
"It's necessary to cater to the increasing number of female participants
and provide safe and welcoming spaces to ensure everyone can continue to enjoy
our great game.
"The project will not only benefit the senior football clubs, but also
others who utilise these venues, including 33 junior football clubs, other
sporting codes and the wider community.
"The WAFC will continue to work with local and state governments and
ensure long-term planning for all venues is still considered for the future
benefits of sport."
