More than $4.9 million in grants will be awarded to 13 projects through the World Game Facilities Fund, continuing the good news for the sport following confirmation that Australia will co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

Among the projects backed by the 2019-20 round of the Fund, $500,000 will go towards a new pavilion and pitch lighting at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve.

Once complete, the pavilion will feature female friendly change rooms, a referees room, canteen, accessible toilet and first aid and storage rooms. Along with the installation of 100-lux lighting, the Wonthaggi United Soccer Club will have a new home ground advantage for its growing number of junior and female members.

Other allocations include $400,000 towards a new pavilion at the home of the Hume Spears Sports Club – at Seth Raistrick Recreation Reserve in Campbellfield – and more than $185,000 towards new lighting at McIvor Reserve, Yarraville – the home of the Yarraville Glory Football Club.

Since 2018, the World Game Facilities Fund has invested $9.9 million in 38 game-changing infrastructure projects with a total project value of $25.5 million. The 2020-21 World Game Facilities Fund will open for applications in November.

This phase of the fund will provide grants of up to $500,000 to councils and alpine resort boards to improve facilities including lighting, turf pitch redevelopments, synthetic pitches and female friendly change rooms.

For more information visit the World Game Facilities Fund