Club denied funding in 'sports rorts' scandal finally gets money for new pitches

Three years after missing out on funds from the Federal Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Grant Program, the Kyneton District Soccer Club is to get the funds it needs to upgrade its pitches.

Despite the Victorian club having met Sport Australia’s criteria for funding for its project from the now discredited Program, it was denied funds in what became known as the ‘sports rorts’ affair.

Seeking to replace the poor-quality surface at the ground, which saw teams have their training cancelled and games moved, due to the state of the pitch, the Victorian Government has now stepped in to commit $500,000 for the works.

Welcoming the funding, Kyneton District Soccer Club President Ron Cole said it would go towards replacing the pitch, which is currently unusable during parts of winter, telling the ABC “it will include the whole surface being taken off the pitch, both grounds being re-drained, irrigated, top dressed and resurfaced with new grass

"At the start of June, we get heavy rain and basically after that the ground chops up … we can't train on it, we can't play on it.

"It's useless to us."

Cole hit out at the Federal Government after the Club missed out on a $470,000 from the Community Sports Infrastructure Grant Program, despite being considered by Sports Australia to be in the top 20 priorities.

The Club's application for federal funding under the Program scored 87 out of 100, meaning it was deemed in the 20 highest priorities by Sports Australia.

Cole commented "to have the money stripped away from us … was absolutely devastating for all the people that put the hard work in.”

A Federal Senate inquiry into the misuse of funds heard from clubs including the Kyneton District Soccer Club, as well as then Federal Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie.

Cole went on to say that the Club never had any subsequent contact from the Federal Government or its sport agency, adding “we were supposed to get feedback from Sports Australia … we haven't had any feedback whatsoever apart from an email to say we weren't successful."

Image: Kyneton District Soccer Club has been seeking to upgrade the surface of its fields for more than five years. Credit: Kyneton District Soccer Club.