Community clubs in ACT reap benefits of AFL investment
AFL NSW/ACT is pleased to announce the AFL has allocated an initial $1 million funding to the new ACT Community Football Facilities Fund.
The ACT CFFF aims to help clubs build capability of their facilities to provide an inclusive experience and host night matches to accommodate female growth and enable flexible fixturing across the AFL Canberra competition.
The ACT CFFF’s initial allocation includes $750,000 of construction costs, $200,000 to develop individual venue upgrade plans and $50,000 to develop a strong and sustainable infrastructure plan for the AFL in ACT.
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Projects receiving funding as part of the ACT Community Football Facility Fund include:
| Location | Club | Works | AFL investment | Total cost | Project partners |
| Kingston Oval | Eastlake AFC | Upgrade change facilities to accommodate female use, electronic scoreboard, surface and irrigation upgrade, upgrade lighting to 200 lux. | Up to $400k | $1 million | ACT Government, Eastlake Group |
| Alan Ray Oval | Ainslie AFC | Upgrade changeroom facilities to accommodate female use and improve umpire changerooms, upgrade lighting to 200 lux. | Up to $150k | $400k | Ainslie Group |
| Holt 101 | Belconnen AFC | Upgrade changeroom facilities to accommodate female use and improve umpire changerooms, extra training and warm-up field with 50 lux lighting and new BBQ area, lighting upgrade to 200 lux. | Up to $150k | $2.175 million | ACT Government, Belconnen Magpies Football Club |
| Kambah Oval | Tuggeranong AFNC | Upgrade changeroom facilities to accommodate female use, improve umpire changerooms, fit an electronic scoreboard. Works enable the facility to become a senior match venue. | Up to $50k | $350k | ACT Government |
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Head of AFL NSW/ACT, Tiffany Robertson, said of the funding: “We are excited to support the AFL Canberra footy community by establishing the ACT Community Facilities Fund to bring about better environments for all levels of our game in the region.”
“Footy in Canberra has a long and proud history. This significant investment reinforces our commitment to the continued development of the code in the region. Thank you to every stakeholder who has partnered with the AFL – especially the ACT Government – to get these projects off the ground and pave the way for facility upgrades commencing in the months ahead. It’s an exciting time to be involved in footy in Canberra.”
The AFL’s Head of Venue Network Enhancements and Partnerships, Shayne Ward, said Canberra’s development was part of a larger national strategy to ensure AFL remained the game of choice for Australians. “I look forward to the ACT providing more inclusive and accessible facilities that cater for the region’s diverse participants in our game and look forward to continuing to improve the region’s facilities.
“The ACT CFFF program’s objectives align with the ACT Government’s Next Move, Sport and Recreation Strategy 2023-2028 as well as the AFL’s Towards 2030 planning document, and when there’s alignment between major stakeholders in infrastructure plans, progress is assured.”
