- Published:
- Tuesday 16 October 2018
The Geelong Touch Football Association will now be able to stage its competition day and night, thanks to $141,000 in funding from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Sport John Eren and Member for Geelong Christine Couzens today announced the association had been successful in securing funding from the Labor Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund to install competition standard lighting at King Lloyd Reserve.
Touch football is booming in Geelong – the association now has 300 players in 30 teams aged from 10 to 67 with an impressive female participation rate of 50 per cent.
The new lighting will be installed across four fields, giving the association’s clubs the opportunity to extend training hours and participate in a full winter competition.
The funding is part of the Labor Government’s strong commitment to sports and active recreation and to encouraging all Victorians to get out there and get active.
Across Victoria we've invested more than $420 million in community sport and recreation facilities, and earlier this year provided almost half a billion dollars in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 to support sport and active recreation at all levels.
Mr Eren and Ms Couzens acknowledged project partners the Federal Government – Building Better Regions Fund, Geelong Touch Football Association and the City of Greater Geelong for their financial commitment to the project.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport John Eren
“Touch football is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age or ability – this lighting will give the association capacity to grow its numbers and provide more opportunities for Geelong locals to get active.”
“Sports clubs are the heart and soul of local communities – this project is a great example of how we’re making sport and recreation more accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all Victorians.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
“King Lloyd Reserve is an important community hub, and we’re making sure it can be enjoyed and utilised by as many locals as possible.”
“It’s great to see so many Geelong locals getting involved in touch footy, however we need to ensure that this growth is catered for with adequate facilities, and that’s what we’re doing.”