Six community clubs have received funding as part of the ACT Government's Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund, which helps Canberra's clubs diversify their business models away from gambling-based revenue.
"Community clubs are so important to Canberra's social fabric. They support our sporting teams, employ hundreds of people, and offer a place to meet and socialise for thousands of Canberrans," Minister for Gaming Shane Rattenbury said.
"The ACT Government wants to reduce gambling harm, while at the same time secure a sustainable future for clubs, so our Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund is an important way to assist clubs to diversify their income to sources other than gaming machines.
"This is yet another example of the ACT's commitment to support clubs so they can continue their important contribution to the life of our community."
A total of $943,000 has been allocated six clubs in the ACT to help fund initiatives like:
- Renovating and reconfiguring the Spanish Australian Club's existing kitchen to meet compliancy and to enable the club to provide catering options;
- Installing a 75.6KW solar PV system at Belconnen Soccer Club's premises and stadium in McKellar;
- Upgrading bar and lounge facilities at Harmonie German Club to grow its capacity to offer entertainment options;
- Conducting site preparation for the development of a childcare centre at Canberra Highland & Burns Club;
- Installing a 300KW solar PV system at the Ainslie Group's Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club premises; and
- Installing a lift and air conditioner to improve accessibility to the Belconnen Magpies Sports club's medical centre in Kippax.
As stated by Spanish Australian Club treasurer Chris Lander:
"The funding received by the Spanish Australian Club will be used to renovate and upgrade the existing kitchen to a modern commercial kitchen which will enable the Spanish Australian Club to offer food services which will accompany events hosted at the club. The Spanish Australian Club operates a delicatessen which provides traditional Spanish foods and carries over 500 product lines of which the majority are Spanish, the delicatessen is open in the morning of the 1st Sunday of the month."
As stated by Belconnen Magpies Club general manager Paul Netting:
"This funding has been used to upgrade the Ochre Medical Centre Kippax by improving accessibility through the installation of a lift which provides wheelchair access to the dentist. We have also installed air conditioning at the premises to provide greater comfort for patients and staff. The Kippax building served as a football club for 47 years and included gaming machines until 2017 when we closed the licensed gaming premises and spent considerable funds converting the site for suitable use as a medical centre."
