Football blessed with WestInvest

Western Sydney has benefitted from a huge boost in funding for sports facilities thanks to the NSW Government’s $5 billion WestInvest program.

The WestInvest Program is funding transformational infrastructure projects that will enhance communities throughout Western Sydney.

WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round will provide approximately $1.6 million in funding to projects across 15 LGA’s in Western Sydney.

Nepean, Southern Districts, Macarthur, Hills, and Canterbury football associations have all benefitted from this billion dollar fund.

Over $333 million is being invested into facilities where football is or will be a key user of the facility.

Projects funded include upgrades to amenity buildings to ensure changerooms are female friendly to allow females to play community sport safely and securely. Natural turf field refurbishments, new indoor multi-sport indoor centres that will benefit our Futsal community, synthetic fields, and completely new venues.

Football CEO John Tsatsimas was excited by the recent WestInvest announcements.

“Investment into infrastructure is critical for the largest team-based sport in NSW.

“Only 25% of football changerooms across NSW are female friendly, this injection of funding will help increase this percentage.

“Football demand is already exceeding facility supply, the funding from WestInvest will help ensure boys and girls across Western Sydney won’t miss out on playing football.

“We’d like to thank the NSW State Government for their continued support.”

The announcement of WestInvest projects comes at the perfect time for football. Heading into the third week of February, over 119,000 players had registered for the new season, representing a 16% year-to-date increase on 2022 numbers.

Nepean Football Association scored well from WestInvest with over $155 million dedicated to football/futsal projects in the area.

A highlight was the $19.1 million allocated to Cook Park home of Nepean FC which will transform this Nepean venue to an amazing regional facility with a new amenity building, spectator viewing facilities, a new synthetic field and a walking circuit for the local community.

New sporting complexes such as Tamplin Field, Fernadell Park, Scalabrini East – Pat Konisata, and New Hyland Road Sporting Complex that have received funding will transform local communities and provide places to play for everyone in Western Sydney.

The below projects have received funding will upgrade and develop football facilities where football already has a presence or will have a presence in the future:

Blue Mountains

• $1.6 million for Blue Mountains City Council to deliver the $1.8 million upgrade of South Lawson Park which will convert a former golf course into a new district level park.

Burwood

• $2.7 million for the Henley Park Sports Field Upgrade which will revitalise two aged sports fields to improve sport and recreational facilities

Campbelltown

• $16.7 million for Campbelltown City Council to deliver the Sport and Health Centre of Excellence at Leumeah, in partnership with Western Sydney University, the Macarthur Bulls, Wests Tigers and the South-West Sydney Academy of Sport;
• $2.8 million for Campbelltown City Council to deliver the Amenities Upgrade Eschol Park Sporting Complex

Camden

• $21.3 million to deliver the Scalabrini East – Pat Konista Active Open Space and Community Facilities. This project will deliver essential sports, community, green and open space infrastructure in Leppington;
• $14 million for the Cut Hill Reserve Sports Field Redevelopment project that will renew 18.5 hectares of public open space to deliver new recreation opportunities.

Cumberland

• $53.7 million for Cumberland Council to deliver the New Hyland Road Sporting Complex into a precinct for indoor and outdoor sport including netball, AFL, football, cricket, baseball, rugby league, rugby union, cricket, basketball, volleyball and badminton;

Fairfield

• $6.3 million for Fairfield City Council to deliver the $6.5 million Brenan Park project which will deliver more spaces for sports and adventure play for all ages.
• more than $28 million in WestInvest funding will go towards the $46.5 million Fairfield Showground Stage 2 – Indoor Sports Centre.
• $16 million for Fairfield City Council to upgrade the Endeavour Sports Park with a new synthetic field, sized for two soccer pitches, an AFL or a cricket pitch;

Hawkesbury

• $9.8 million for the Hawkesbury City Council to deliver the Tamplin Field Redevelopment project which will include a new synthetic field with off-field grassed spaces to enable games and events through all weather conditions.
• $4.6 million towards the $9.87 million Fernadell Park and Community Facility development project to deliver new sporting facilities to encourage women and young people to get active.

Hills

• $1 million for the Hills Shire Council to deliver the Fred Caterson Reserve – Fields 1, 2 & 3 Upgrade and Refurbishment project in Castle Hill

Parramatta

• $3.8 million for the Max Ruddock Reserve Amenities Modernisation with viewing platform project to upgrade a 50-year-old building to support growth in local sport.
• $5.6 million for the City of Parramatta Council to deliver the North Granville Community Open Space Upgrade project which will upgrade FS Garside Park and construct a natural turf football field and install new sports field lighting, seating, and a regional sized playground.
• $8.7 million for the City of Parramatta Council to deliver the Strengthening the Heart of Play project in North Parramatta

Penrith

• $106.7 million for Penrith City Council to deliver the Indoor Multi Sports Facility project in Claremont Meadows.
• $19.1 million for Penrith City Council to deliver the Cook Park Precinct Sport, Play, Grandstand & Mixed Recreation project in St Marys. The project will include a new amenities building, extended grandstand with spectator viewing facilities, a new synthetic playing surface, a walking circuit with pedestrian lighting, tree planting and landscaping.
• $1.7 million for Penrith City Council to deliver the Andromeda Oval Storage, Sports Surface & Carpark Improvements project which will upgrade storage amenities at the existing facility, improved drainage and surface work to the eastern playing fields, upgrade to the existing multisport surfaces for netball and basketball and an extension to the existing car park.
• $7 million towards the $41 million Gipps Street Recreation Precinct project to transform a 32-hectare former landfill site in Claremont Meadows into a multipurpose open space facility for the community.

Wollondilly

• $5.2 million for Wollondilly Shire Council to upgrade the Waterboard Oval in Warragamba with new and improved facilities to accommodate soccer, cricket, AFL and various court sports.

For more details on the WestInvest Fund and to see all announced successful projects, click here.