Greater Western Sydney Giants will transform its training and community centre at Sydney Olympic Park into a new centre of excellence thanks to a $15 million grant from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the project would provide a home ground for the Giants AFLW team, as well as high-performance facilities for the club's AFL, AFLW and netball teams.
"Women's sport is experiencing exponential growth and this project has a particular focus on creating more opportunities for women and girls in AFL," Mr Perrottet said.
"The $15 million investment to develop new facilities will also help the Giants expand its community outreach program, by increasing access and utilisation for grassroots community sporting clubs and schools in Western Sydney."
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the funding will support the installation of new lighting, scoreboard, oval fencing and a swimming pool complex.
"This program is bridging the gap between elite sport and the grassroots, by bringing our sporting heroes closer to the community and creating strong links with pathway and development programs," Mr Henskens said.
"Since 2017 the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has invested more than $2 billion in grassroots community sport, through infrastructure grant programs and the nation-leading Active Kids voucher program."
The Centre of Excellence Fund aims to improve talent pathways by providing funding towards the development of integrated high-performance sporting and community facilities.
Projects funded through the program must include multi-purpose facilities, enabling organisations to expand community programs and engage with the community.
GIANTS CEO David Matthews said this is a significant announcement for the football club and for women's football in New South Wales.
"This project is imperative for us to continue to grow and expand our training and community facility for our AFL, AFLW and netball teams and work towards developing a dedicated AFLW stadium right here at Sydney Olympic Park," Mr Matthews said.
"This project will enable all stakeholders to deliver on our collective objectives of better servicing the communities of Western Sydney and providing economically responsible solutions to a host of needs from grassroots sport to the elite level.
"We thank the NSW Government for their continued support of the development of the GIANTS' centre of excellence and our female pathway opportunities."
