The future of sport is bright in regional Victoria, with a new fund opening this week to help local clubs update their infrastructure and facilities to make way for more locals to play.

The new Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (RCSIF) has been launched – with funding of up to $60 million available.

The RCSIF is funded through the Regional Community Sport Development Fund and the All-Abilities Sport Fund – announced in July – following consultation with regional communities who said new infrastructure and upgraded facilities were needed to keep local sport thriving.

Complementary grants of up to $50,000 are also available to help boost wider community participation at the upgraded facilities, in partnership with sporting organisations and local disability service providers.

“RSV welcomes the significant funding for infrastructure upgrades in regional Victoria. In particular, we are pleased to see the connection to activating the facilities through participation planning,” said RSV Executive Officer Meghan Mayman.

“Local government authorities are encouraged to reach out to regional sports assemblies for partnership support to ensure collaboration across community sport upgrades.”

The four streams cover a wider variety of upgrades to suit a range of clubs:

• Up to $3 million available to develop or upgrade multi-sport indoor courts and aquatic facilities through the Indoor Stadium and Aquatic Facilities Stream
• Grants up to $1 million available through the Community Facilities Stream to build or upgrade sports pavilions, sports lighting, play spaces and active recreation facilities
• The Women and Girls Facilities Stream has grants of up to $1 million for new female-friendly change rooms or sports courts to help level the playing field
• For the first time there will be a dedicated All Abilities Infrastructure stream that will provide grants of up to $1 million to renovate existing facilities to ensure they are accessible for people with disability.

“Sport is really important to Victorians and this is especially true in our regional towns – this fund will ensure local sporting clubs have the best facilities and infrastructure to get everyone in their community involved,” said Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence.

“We have fantastic towns all over regional Victoria and local sporting clubs are a big part of a town’s identity – by upgrading their facilities and removing barriers to entry, even more people will be able to get involved with their local sporting club.”

Applications for the first round of the Fund are now open through 27 March 2024. For more information or to apply, visit www.sport.vic.gov.au.