MORE INCLUSIVE PLAYSPACES COMING TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS NSW

Member for Albury Justin Clancy announced communities affected by fire and drought are the focus of the new round of funding for inclusive playspaces in the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play grant program.

NSW councils are invited to apply for the latest round of the program, which delivers better and more inclusive playspaces across NSW.

Applications from councils in declared drought or bushfire-affected areas will be prioritised in this round, with an extra $3 million reserved for them in addition to the $4 million grants round.

Mr Clancy said the potential addition of a new and inclusive playspace would be a welcome investment in the Albury Electorate as the community recovers from last summer’s bushfires.

“This is a great opportunity for our local area to benefit from this outstanding program, which could see the creation of inclusive playspaces where everyone can play, no matter their age or ability.”

“The successful Everyone Can Play program is in its third year with an increased grants cap to be focussed towards struggling communities who have lost so much valuable public space,” Mr Clancy said.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the program would ensure that communities devastated by last summer’s bushfires received new playspaces.

“We’re doing everything we can to support communities affected by bushfires and I’m happy that these grants will help put smiles on the faces of many people,” Mr Stokes said.

This round of the Everyone Can Play grant program will particularly support the delivery of projects by drought and fire-affected councils, with the usual requirement for matched funding varied for these councils so they will only need to contribute 25 per cent of matched funding. Eligible councils will also be able to apply for up to $700,000 in funding for exemplary projects bringing their community together and aiding recovery.

This is the third round of grants for the Everyone Can Play in NSW program, established in 2018. In the previous round, 37 projects across 30 council areas received funding for inclusive playspaces, including Strathfield’s Amazing Inclusion Maze, Bourke’s Sun Safe Play, Griffith’s Henderson Oval Playground and Northern Beaches’ Clontarf Reserve Playground.  

Councils can apply for grants of up to $300,000 for new playspaces and up to $75,000 for improvements. Applications are open until midday, 3 November 2020.

For more information visit https://planning.nsw.gov.au/EveryoneCanPlayGrant