Eight local sporting clubs will share in $100,000 as part of the Mount Gambier City Council’s 2021/22 Sport and Recreation Capital Works Program which aims to increase community usage of sport and recreation facilities.
City Infrastructure General Manager Barbara Cernovskis said council received nine applications for funds in total, to the value of more than $145,000.
“That meant councillors had a tough decision in choosing which projects to support this year,” she said.
“Council is pleased to be able to provide these grants to our local sporting clubs as these important projects enable our community to continue to enjoy their chosen sport.”
The Mount Gambier Gun Club will receive $14,000 as part of the program to replace two skeet clay target traps and the balltrap/double rise trap to ensure they meet International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) standard.
Mount Gambier Gun Club Secretary Barry Sims said there were several young people involved in the Olympic pathway program and they have real potential in the sport.
“At the moment they have to travel to Adelaide to train to be competitive, as we’re not able to provide the standard of clay target competition to enable members to reach the ISSF standard,” he said.
“It’s really terrific the council is providing this grant to us, as without it we would not be able to go ahead and buy and install the new traps.
“We have got some of the best shooters down our way, they often make the state team and this will give a lot of people some extra opportunity to achieve.”
Mount Gambier Gun Club Coach Max Medhurst said the club hoped to install and start using the new traps in the coming weeks and was excited about providing members with a competition and training venue for international competitions.
“This upgrade of facilities will not only support our club members but other young athletes in shooting from surrounding districts to be able to train and compete,” he said.
“We will also be in a position to host national level ISSF events in the future.
“We hope to have the traps here from Melbourne in the next few weeks, one will be installed before Christmas and the other two will go in in the new year as we have a big competition here in January.”
The total project cost is more than $35,000.
Mount Gambier Bowls Club Project Officer Peter Clark said the club would put its $14,000 grant allocation towards refurbishing the ladies toilet facilities.
“In the process of recently upgrading our entrance and the men’s toilet facility, it has left the ladies toilet facilities looking pretty horrible with a 1960s design and in desperate need of upgrading,” he said.
“The club will remove the existing stone walls and old single flush toilets, install and level a new floor to remove a ramp, install new toilets, tile the walls and floor, install a new ceiling and finish off with fresh paint.
“The total cost of the refurbishment project is almost $20,000 and the club is grateful for the financial assistance.
“Without funding, the club would fall backwards and slowly become defunct, so with the help of council and other government agencies it makes it possible for us to provide facilities that are modern and suitable for the people using the place.
“The wider community will benefit from this upgrade as we have got two Probus clubs and a ladies happy and healthy group who use the club as members, but do not play bowls.
“We also have some schools who use the club rooms too, so good toilets are essential.”
The club hopes to complete the project by the end of January 2022.
