Several sporting organisations in Dubbo are set to benefit from some state funding as four projects were announced on Tuesday.
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The NSW government's Stronger Country Communities Fund will see $1.8 million invested across the four projects - an AFL clubhouse, new grading for the netball courts, new seating for No 1 Oval and LED lights at the touch ovals.
Dubbo Junior AFL received a grant from the government to convert the former Girl Guides Hall into a clubhouse which also be home to female change facilities for players of all ages.
Dubbo Junior AFL club president Merinda Roll said the new clubhouse and change rooms would be a big help in getting more females involved in the sport.
"The announcement tops off an amazing season for us," she said.
"More importantly it provides our female participants a means to move through those pathways in AFL in the central west.
"We were disappointed with council back in 2019/20 when they couldn't provide any space for a female change room with the upgrade to the amenities block.
"We were so fortunate to acquire the guide hall and then apply for this funding."
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Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said female participation in sports like AFL was growing from the junior level, right through to the seniors.
"The guide hall will be upgraded itself inside and out with a viewing deck coming out from the hall.
"It will be all weather so it can be used during winter days.
"It will be also kid safe so mums and dads can participate in the sport while not having to worry about a child being hit in the carpark."
John McGrath Oval will also receive an upgrade with more than half a million dollars going towards a significant light upgrade.
The new LED lights will provide additional lighting for the four touch fields which will allow games and trainings to run longer into the night if necessary.
Dubbo Touch Football Association president Neil Webster said the upgrades would help the organisation expand some of the competitions in quite a big way.
"At the moment our winter competition has had fixed numbers for 10 years or so," he said.
"We haven't been able to take on any more teams because there were no lights.
"This will allow us to expand a number of fields to not only get more players and more participation but at the moment we play until 9pm but this will allow us to have only two time slots."
Only hundreds of metres away from the touch ovals, the Nita McGrath Netball courts will also receive an upgrade funded by the state government with seven hard surface courts to be updated.
Several of the current courts have cracking problems on them but the new upgrades will also have a rubber under-surfacing to help reduce shock and impacts on joints to help keep players on the courts for longer.
The upgraded courts will also of a state competition standard.
Lastly, the grandstand at Victoria Park's No.1 Oval will receive a refurbishment thanks to $100,000 which will also come from the state government.
The new re-vamp will see the replacement of flooring in certain areas along with painting and the installation of new aluminum seating.
The new seats will also feature back rests to help increase safety, comfort and useability in the grandstand for sports such as cricket, rugby union, rugby league and soccer.
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