Six ACT community clubs will benefit from the latest round of industry funding aimed at promoting the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Minister for Gaming Shane Rattenbury announced the recipients from the Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund (DSSF) Tier 2 funding as part of the ACT Government's commitment to reducing harm from electronic gaming machines.
"The government is implementing a gaming harm reduction agenda, working with clubs to reduce the number of gaming machines, and to introduce bet limits. An important part of this is helping clubs to transition to revenue streams that don't involve gaming," Minister Rattenbury said.
"Established in 2019, the Fund supports local clubs to reduce their reliance on electronic gaming machine revenue and develop alternative streams of income"
"More than $1 million DSSF funding has been made available as a result of joint contributions from the ACT Government and clubs"
More than $950,000 has been distributed across six clubs in the latest funding round, including:
- Canberra Labor Club – $150,000 to develop a conference centre at the Mercure Hotel, Belconnen as a new revenue stream.
- Canberra North Bowling and ACT Rugby Union Club – $200,000 to significantly upgrade kitchen and multipurpose areas and install a new café.
- Canberra Southern Cross Club – $100,000 to develop the Corinna St frontage of their Woden club with an outdoor dining area. The space also meets an objective of the Woden Town Centre Master Plan to encourage buildings that help the streets and open spaces be safer and more welcoming.
- Croatia Deakin Soccer Club – $175,000 to redesign and rebuild the main entry, including installation of an airlock doorway to reduce running costs and conserve energy, and to fund installation of a lift to make the upper floor accessible to non-ambulant clientele.
- Eastlake Football Club – $150,000 to install solar panels at three clubs to significantly reduce running costs.
- Murrumbidgee Country Club – $200,000 to construct an indoor golf facility to extend the availability of lessons and practice ranges which would otherwise be restricted to fine weather and conducted predominantly in the warmer months.
Chief Executive Officer of the Canberra Southern Cross Club Ian Mackay said the funding will help provide a valuable outdoor space for their members at Woden.
"Creating attractive outdoor hospitality spaces is something we are passionate about at the Canberra Southern Cross Club," Mr Mackay said.
"We have achieved this already at our Southern Cross Yacht Club, Snapper & Co and Jamison venues and this funding will bring to life a new 'urban oasis' in the Woden town centre to be enjoyed year-round by our local community."
Croatia Deakin Football Club General Manager Mark Herrick also shared how the funding will increase accessibility for patrons at the club.
"The grant will greatly assist the club with improved access to the ground floor and first floor meeting and function rooms for people with disabilities and other members," Mr Herrick said.
"These improvements will allow us to significantly increase our patronage."
