Apply for funding, now, says Tesch
Sporting groups should apply for Stronger Communities Funding, which is now open, according to Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch.
"The funding round aims to enhance experiences in regional communities, is now open," she said.
"This round's funding is directed at enhancements to women's sporting facilities, with $50 million to be allocated across regional communities."
Ms Tesch said: "Growing up I always played sport, with my wheelchair basketball career beginning in the men's team."
"These experiences made me realise the importance of having female dedicated sports and facilities to ensure our experiences are just as good as the men's."
Ms Tesch's comments come in the wake of the NSW Parliamentary inquiry into grant schemes where it was found the Stronger Communities Fund had been pork-barrelled with 95 per cent of funds being directed to Councils with Coalition-held or marginal seats in the tied grants round.
Ms Tesch said there was no excuse for this behaviour.
"The inquiry found the Stronger Communities Funding was deliberately used as a means to pork-barrel, with due process and merit assessment severely lacking when it came to applications."
"This fund was supposed to help merged councils, yet instead it just dug our debt a little deeper, by favouring Liberal and marginal seats."
Under the Stronger Communities Funding eleven projects specific for the Electorate of Terrigal were granted, totalling almost $4.7 million.
Meanwhile five projects specific to the Gosford electorate were granted which amounted to almost $2.2 million, despite the Gosford electorate covering over 700 square kilometres more than Terrigal.
"The more community groups we have applying for these grants, the more grants I hope we can get here in Gosford so I really encourage you all to submit an application to ensure our community and our future female sporting leaders are awarded what they deserve."
Applications will close at 12pm on June 25.
SOURCE:
Social media, 24 May 2021
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford