Two growing Sunshine Coast clubs have scored a funding boost, allowing them to boast first-class fields for the next couple of years.
Kawana Park Junior AFL Club and Chancellor Park Soccer Club have secured multi-year grants, through Sunshine Coast Council’s Sports Field Maintenance Program.
Kawana Park Junior AFL President Adam McKenzie said a two-year deal, worth $19,600 per year, would allow them to maintain the club’s new home fields at Meridan Plains Sports Complex.
“Our club has undergone significant growth since it was founded in 2001 and currently caters for 280 boys and girls across 14 teams from Under 8s to Under 18s, as well as a junior Auskick program for around 90 kids and an additional adult social competition in the off-season,” he said.
“That equates to a lot of traffic on our playing fields.
“So, it’s a huge boost for the Eagles to be part of council’s Sports Field Maintenance Program and receive this funding over the next two years.
“It will enable us to undertake important maintenance duties like mowing, fertilising, weeding and aerating the grounds.
“This will ensure that we can provide our players with safer and higher quality grounds to train and play AFL.”
Chancellor Park Soccer Club will receive almost $10,000 in 2021/22 and $19,600 in 2022/23 through Council’s Sports Field Maintenance Program.
President Anthony Johnston said the grant would help the club hit the ground running at its home grounds at the Palmview Sports Complex.
“Having additional financial support to put towards the maintenance of our new playing grounds is a tremendous boost for our 300 junior and 80 senior players,” he said.
“Having a high-quality playing surface is important for all sports and especially for soccer, to enable youngsters to develop and express their skills and most importantly enjoy themselves.”
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/scnews2020/
Economic Development, Innovation, Tourism, Events and Sports portfolio councillor Jason O’Pray said the program aimed to provide consistent, equitable and appropriate support for sports fields maintenance across our local government area.
The program offered up to three years of funding for not-for-profit community organisations who are responsible for maintaining community sports fields in the region.
Council will invest more than $760,000 in it, across 48 sports clubs during the 2021/22 financial year.
“We are partnering with sporting organisations to help them maintain their facilities to a competition level,” Cr O’Pray said.
Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
Community portfolio councillor Rick Baberowski said it was wonderful to provide support in two of the Sunshine Coast’s major growth areas.
“Sporting clubs are the fabric of our healthy, smart, creative region and they help to build cohesive communities and promote active lifestyles,’’ Cr Baberowski said.
“Seeing Kawana Park Junior AFL Club and the Chancellor Park Soccer Club achieving their respective grants through council’s Sports Field Maintenance Program is excellent for the youngsters who play for these clubs and who will benefit greatly from having higher quality fields to train and play on.
“It’s also a huge boost for the mums and dads and volunteers who donate their time to run these clubs.
“The Harmony development at Palmview will be home to around 12,000 future residents and with soccer being one of Australia’s highest participation sports at junior age levels, it’s terrific that the Chancellor Park Club will have high quality fields to cater for its current and future members.”
