Funding announced for over 600 South Australian sport and active recreation clubs impacted by drought

The Regional Drought Relief Round – introduced by the South Australian Government – is enabling 630 sport and active recreation clubs impacted by drought to access up to $5,000 to continue providing programs and services in regional communities.

This program forms part of the SA Government’s $73 million Drought Support Package, aimed at boosting wellbeing, resilience and economic recovery in communities affected by prolonged dry conditions.

The successful recipients will share in $1.75 million in drought-relief funding, with the highest uptake in Yorke and Mid North (186 clubs), Eyre and Western (97), Limestone Coast (87) and Murray and Mallee (86) regions.

Applications for the initiative – a new and additional round of the Active Club Program – were assessed and approved on a rolling basis, allowing clubs to access and use the funds quickly to address urgent needs.

Grants can be used to implement water-saving and drought-resilient measures, support energy efficient initiatives and deliver utility bill relief, reducing operating costs for local organisations.

Moonta Football Club used their $5,000 grant to help upgrade and replace an old sprinkler system as well as covering water costs, transforming the town’s oval from brown dirt with little grass cover to a healthy, competition-standard green surface.

Moonta Football Club Chairman and grant recipient Josh Ritter noted “by replacing the sprinkler system and consistently watering our club’s oval we are able to provide healthy and safe facilities for our players to use, fostering and enhancing participation.

“As the old sprinkler system that was over 40 years old had started to deteriorate and with the lack of summer rain we had, the oval’s grass was practically dead earlier this year. Players were training on hard dirt, which is not safe for a contact sport.

“This funding program is important because for a community run not-for-profit we are limited in our revenue streams. The total cost for getting the oval healthy came to an excess of $25,000, so the grant helped pay for some of these expenses.

“Without these types of grants being available clubs like ours reduce expenditure in other key areas, which then stunts efforts for facility upgrades and participation programs as funding is redirected to pay expenses – such as a large water bill.”

Funding can also go towards essential costs like equipment, uniforms and professional development for coaches and staff – removing barriers to participation and encouraging more people to get involved in community sport and recreation.

View the full list of Regional Drought Relief Round recipients

Image top. Moonta Football Club sprinkler system installed; image centre: Monnta Football Club oval before and after; Image below: Moonta Football Club oval restored for sport. Credit: SA Gov/Moonta Football Club