Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie has announced Federal Government community development grants to Encounter Bay Football Club and Mount Compass Community Sports and Social Club.

The football club will receive $550,000 to upgrade its existing change rooms and build SANFL-compliant amenities for female players and umpires.

The grant will also enable the club to extend its clubrooms, kitchen and canteen facilities and make them compliant with disability access requirements, as well as upgrade the fire water supply, fire hydrant and fire hose reels to new national standards.

Ms Sharkie says many community groups are struggling to upgrade facilities to meet modern standards for health and safety, disability access and gender inclusiveness.

“Women’s football in particular is booming in popularity which is fantastic for our community and the sport of AFL but it does present challenges for community-built facilities designed and built decades ago,” she says.

“Encounter Bay Football Club has risen to the challenge and has done a huge amount of planning and engagement with their membership.”

Mount Compass Community Sports and Social Club can finally address an urgent council directive to meet new fire safety standards thanks to a $60,000 grant.

The club can now replace the old straw-thatched ceiling inside its main building and install water tanks, a fire hydrant and pipework for CFS use.

 “This is fantastic news for a small but vibrant community group faced with a massive bill to make their facilities meet modern fire standards,” Ms Sharkie says.

“We understand that our public facilities need to keep up with Australian standards but when you’re a community-run organisation relying on gate takings and catering to meet all of your costs it can be tough to come up with a large amount of money for unforeseen expenses such as these.”