Additional $45 million for Queensland’s flood affected sporting clubs

A further $45 million in disaster recovery funding aims to support Queensland’s grassroots sport and active recreation clubs impacted by heavy rain and flooding over the past six months.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the $45 million Community and Recreational Assets Recovery and Resilience Program will help rebuild and strengthen affected communities.

Minister Watt noted “these additional funds come at a welcome time for many Queensland sporting clubs and local councils who are still trying to make repairs after a year of constant rain and flooding.

“The funds can be used for repairing or restoring facilities where insurance doesn’t cover the cost or making improvements that make the club more resilient against future flooding.

“Some of the facilities in urgent need of repair include playing fields, lights, amenities and clubhouses.

“Sports and recreational clubs are a vital part of our communities. They provide people a place to meet, check in with one another and stay active. That’s why it’s so important to get them back up and running as soon as possible.”

Queensland Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe added “Sport and active recreation are pivotal to the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.

“We’re encouraging club volunteers and local councils, as facility owners or managers, who need to help with the recovery of their sport facilities to jump online for this latest round of emergency funding.

“There were 37 Queensland local government areas affected by the recent extreme weather events.

“Multiple avenues of recovery funding remain open including the Level 1 Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program grants ($5000), QRIDA grants - the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority ($50,000) and the jointly funded DRFA Sport and Recreation Recovery grants (up to $20,000).”

“So far 329 sporting organisations have been approved over $1.42 million in funding through the Level 1 Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program, including all current disaster activations across Queensland.”

The funding is part of a $720 million joint Commonwealth and Queensland Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) Phase 3 floods recovery package for Queensland which includes human and social recovery, economic, environmental and infrastructure recovery.

Expressions of Interest in the further emergency funding round were open now and would close on 8th July 2022 at 5pm.

For more information or to apply, visit qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/disaster-recovery

Image: Pine Rivers Bears - a grassroots Rugby League Club established in 1969 located in the heart of Petrie - a suburb in Queensland’s Moreton Bay Region – which was impacted by flooding