Families have missed so much this year. The Andrews Labor Government wants to make sure Victorians can get back to the things they love – enjoyed with the people they love – with a $164 million investment in sport and recreation.

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 continues the Labor Government’s investment in grassroots sport – so more Victorians can get back on the field.

The Budget provides a $110 million boost to the Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program, which works with local councils and clubs to fast-track shovel-ready projects.

This investment builds on the $68 million in the first round of the fund, which has supported 27 projects across Victoria including a new sports and community hub at Debneys Park in Flemington, a major multisport development at Clyde Recreation Reserve and the redevelopment of the Knox Regional Netball Centre.

The Budget also includes $27 million to make sure our sports facilities are more accessible to more people.

More than a third of that investment will build more female-friendly facilities – so women and girls don’t have to deal with substandard changerooms and toilets. A further $5 million will improve access at community football and netball clubs, and $3 million will install better lighting and new scoreboards.

Sport in Mildura will receive a major boost with $10 million for the Mildura South Regional Sports Precinct, a project that enjoys widespread support across Sunraysia, delivering a new oval for footy and cricket, courts and clubrooms.

A further $6 million will go to the popular Sporting Club Grants Program, building on the more than $5.9 million already kicked in by the Labor Government for more than 4,300 clubs across the state.

To help more children get back into sport, the Budget funds a Victorian-first program that will give 100,000 kids vouchers to buy uniforms, equipment and memberships their families would otherwise struggle to afford.

The $21 million Get Active Kids Voucher Program will remove barriers to youngsters enjoying all the benefits of participating in sport and recreation.