1 March 2011 | Tennis Victoria

Tennis Victoria is committed to supporting tennis clubs who have been affected by the recent floods. Tennis Victoria’s role will be to communicate and coordinate available support to those clubs affected.

If your club has been damaged by the floods, we encourage committee members to contact Tennis Victoria on (03) 8420 8420 or your Community Tennis Officer to discuss a range of options such as: 

• Victorian and Commonwealth government assistance. This includes the Community Recovery Fund for community facilities.
• VicHealth Active Club Grants (closing date 28 February)
• Tennis Australia, National Court Rebate Scheme
• Fundraising
• Club development support

You are advised to check your insurance cover before applying for grants. Tennis clubs should also make contact with your local council regarding other flood related assistance.

Please find below updated information regarding available grants.

Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV) – Community Recovery Fund

The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty MP, announced on 22 February a package of funding for flood affected sporting and community groups. Please see the joint State and Federal Government’s Floods Community Recovery Fund guidelines, application form and fact sheet for your information.

The fund has been broken up into three funding streams.

• The first is for small grants of up to $5k that clubs / community groups can apply for. This is to assist in replacing furnishings, equipment, appliances, floor coverings etc damaged by the floods. It may also be used, for functions / events that bring flood affected communities together.
• The second stream of funding is an initial upfront contribution of $50k to Councils to assist with the initial repair / reinstatement of infrastructure. Affected clubs may wish to get in touch with their local Council with any proposals that they have on how this funding could be used.
• The remaining funding is a negotiated stream, where larger infrastructure repair / replacement projects can be funded. SRV will continue to work with councils and State Sporting Associations to identify projects under this stream.

Should you have any queries about the above information please feel free to contact Tennis Victoria’s Infrastructure and Environment Manager, Simon Thompson on 8420 8405 or Tatiana Lunn at SRV on 9208 3459 .

SRV – Emergency Grant: Sporting and Recreational Equipment

This program provides grants of up to $2,000 to replace essential sports equipment lost or destroyed during floods and other unpreventable and exceptional events.

Essential equipment includes that which is necessary to participate in sport or active recreation (e.g. bats, balls, gloves, helmets, bikes, gymnastic mats, etc) as well as first aid equipment that is necessary for immediate attention to injury that may occur during participation in sport or active recreation.

The program does not provide funding for fixed playing surfaces and structures, non-playing equipment (e.g. public address systems, banners, trophies, videos, etc), canteen items (e.g. fridges, microwaves, food/drinks, cash registers, etc), maintenance equipment including tools, equipment damaged through wear and tear, and equipment not owned by the applicant but by another organisation or individual.

Further information is available on the Department of Planning and Community Development website.

Rural Finance – Clean-up and Restoration grants and loans

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations who have suffered direct damage as a result of the floods for clean-up, removal of debris and business restoration. Applications close on 31 July 2011.

The Clean-up and Restoration Grant can assist with:

• clean-up costs including hire of equipment, materials and external labour
• removal and disposal of debris and damaged goods and materials
• payment for tradespersons to conduct safety inspections
• essential repairs to internal fittings e.g. floor coverings, electrical re-wiring
• leasing of temporary premises
• repairs to buildings (other than housing)
• reconditioning/repairing essential plant and equipment.

Concessional loans for the replacement of lost or damaged assets are also available at 2.8% interest for an initial period of up to five years. Loans will generally be limited to $200,000, and adequate security will be required for any lending. Further information on the grants and loans is available on the Rural Finance website.

Victorian Government – Community Recovery Fund

The “Community Recovery Fund” is a $4 million fund focussed on rebuilding social networks and functioning, and restoring community facilities damaged by the floods. Further detail on this fund will be provided once arrangements have been finalised.

Commonwealth Bank – Community Flood Assistance Grants Program

The Commonwealth bank is providing grants of up to $20,000 to community groups affected by the floods through a $5 million grants program. Applications close on 11 March 2011. Further information can be found at the Commonwealth Bank’s website.