BY ISABEL EVERETT
A local football club has missed out on Federal funding from the scandalous sports grant program, despite receiving a higher score on their application than other projects which did secure funding.
Newcastle Olympic Football Club applied for $500,000 from the $100 million dollar fund towards the end of 20
18 to upgrade the their ageing grand stand and change room facilities, but were rejected.
An independent analysis undertaken by Sports Australia found they scored 76 out of 100 points on their application, more than the 74 required.
Newcastle Olympic Football Club Secretary, Con Gounis, says the application process was extensive.
"It's not an easy process filling the application, there's a lot of work and a lot of time. The process took probably about two to three months. You had to get letters of support, quotes," he said.
"We just thought we had a pretty good chance of receiving the grant, we ticked all the boxes as far as we could see."
"When we found out we didn't get it we thought, yeah okay there must have been other worthy projects, which obviously there are, but to find out you've missed out because of other external circumstances, not on the submission you provided is very disappointing."
Mr Gounis met with Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon at the Hamilton South facilities on Thursday.
Ms Claydon said that despite having
strong community support, the Newcastle Olympic
Football Club application was bypassed for
less worthy projects.
“We already know that close to
half the projects that were approved under this appalling sports rorts program weren’t even eligible, while deserving projects like the
Darling Street redevelopment didn’t get a cent,” Ms Claydon said.
“This is a shameful betrayal of
trust of the thousands of people in community sporting organisations across the
country that toiled for days - if not weeks or months – filling out these grant
applications in good faith.”
Ms Claydon said she is writing to the Prime Minister to request that the Government
deliver the Darling Street project funding
in line with its obvious merit.
“I’m calling on the Prime Minister to review the dodgy decisions of his Government and deliver this deserved funding to
the Newcastle Olympic Football Club.”
Mr Gounis said the clubs facilities are in serious need of an upgrade.
"We had good support from Newcastle City Council, from Sharon, from the club's funding and we hoped that this was just going to tip us over the edge to repair some infrastructure that's quite ageing here now," he said.
"The grand stand was built over 30 years ago by the club volunteers, the amenities are 50 years old."
"There's no facilities for women referees, the dressing sheds are quite archaic. We just wanted to upgrade so we could have facilities for our men and our women so we can provide for every sphere we are involved in."
Mr Gounis said the grand stand is of particular concern.
"It doesn't meet all building specifications, it's still safe, but it's rusting and weathered. It really does need replacement."
The club has expressed how disheartening
the oredeal has been and the doubt it has cast over Government
sport grants programs in general.
"We just want a level playing field, to be judged on your merit, it doesn't look like that's happened, for a club that's worked really hard over the 30 or 35 years here at the oval," he said.
"It's certainly put a big question mark on it, you just expect that everyone's equal and it's going to be decided fairly and equitably."
But, My Gounis says the club isn't giving up yet.
"We'll still keep trying, we're very dedicated and determined to get the facility up to what we think it needs to be playing in the NPL, in the youths, the men's and the women's.
Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon speaks to Newcastle Olympic Football Club Secretary, Con Gounis.
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