Deputy premier John Barilaro and NSW Sport Minister Stuart Ayers used a visit to Wingham on Tuesday, February 27 to announce a $100 million boost to the State Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.

The funding is focused on upgrading and creating sports infrastructure in regional NSW.

Mr Barilaro said the funding highlights the importance of grassroots sport.

“We want to build the best facilities.

“It brings communities together, it brings families together and it unites regional towns.

“It’s an opportunity for young kids to stay in regional NSW, play in some of the best sporting facilities but more importantly making sure we support grassroots sport right across NSW,” Mr Barilaro said. 

Mr Barilaro urged sports clubs across the State to work with local councils to apply for the funding, which is available now. 

Mr Ayres said sport has a strong to connection to many communities across NSW.

“It will allow us to upgrade tired sporting infrastructure, it will allow us to improve sporting facilities for our most talented athletes in regional NSW and most importantly, it will provide fantastic pathways and quality infrastructure to make sport more accessible for young people right through to older people across regional NSW.

“We want to make sure like the Wingham Tigers, that local sporting clubs around regional NSW are getting their fair share.

“Those local community facilities are the beating heart of every single community in regional NSW,” Mr Ayres said.