Muswellbrook Shire Council has committed $60,000 to upgrade equipment and facilities at 11 local sporting clubs through its Sport and Recreation Capital Grants Program. Council says the investment continues its long-running support for grassroots sport across the Shire.
Since 2015, more than one million dollars has been allocated through the program. In the latest round, $52,492 has been distributed through Large Capital Grants and $8,656 through Small Capital Grants.
Major recipients include Muswellbrook Football Club, which has secured $30,000 for tiered grandstand seating and replacement of damaged seats at Victoria Park. Denman’s junior and senior cricket clubs will receive $17,000 to replace synthetic practice pitches at Denman Cricket Oval, while Olympic Park Tennis Club has been awarded $7,492 to repaint its clubhouse and barbecue area.
Smaller grants include $2,000 for an electronic board for Muswellbrook Swimming Club, $2,000 for surface upgrades for the Denman Sandy Hollow Junior Rugby League Football Club and $1,000 towards storage racks for Muswellbrook’s junior and senior rugby union sides.
Mayor Jeff Drayton said local sporting clubs remain central to community life.
“Sport is part of life in Muswellbrook Shire and so are our local clubs. They rely on volunteers and they’re part of our community,” he said. “These grants support that commitment and make sure facilities remain safe, accessible and fit for the future.”
Council received 12 applications in what it described as a highly competitive funding round. Priority was given to projects delivering strong community benefit, improving safety or participation, demonstrating matched funding and showing readiness to begin. Funding for the program comes from Voluntary Planning Agreements between Council and mining companies, with the money reinvested directly into local sport.
