SSAA Victoria has been successful in obtaining $200,000 of State Government funding to carry out much-needed works at Springvale and Eagle Park. Each $100,000 State Government grant – from round two of the Shooting Sports Facilities Program – will be bolstered by $50,000 of SSAA Victoria funds.
The recent announcement followed a $100,000 Shooting Sports Facilities Program grant awarded to the Association in November 2015. Facilities Manager Shaun Doyle said the funding would enable the Association to undertake significant capital improvement works at the ranges.
“At Springvale, we can now refurbish the front entrance and the toilets, repair and replace walls, and carry out several other projects around the ranges to improve the aesthetics,” he said.
“The funding will also enable us to make Eagle Park more accessible to people of all abilities and finish a number of important projects. We believe that the capital improvements will significantly benefit the members and the public that use both ranges.”
Several other SSAA Victoria branches and sub-clubs also applied for funding under the program, with more than $210,000 awarded to them collectively.
The Sporting Shooters Pistol Club was successful in its application for a $100,000 grant, Military Rifle Club will receive $46,000, Wodonga Branch will receive $29,000, Wodonga Handgun Club will receive $20,000 and the Warrnambool Branch will receive $20,000.
SSAA Victoria Chief Executive Officer Jack Wegman said the recent announcement would mean the Victorian Government had invested more than $500,000 into the Association through both rounds of the Shooting Sports Facilities Program.
“This funding from the Victorian Government will enable us to make significant improvements at both of our premier ranges and our regional facilities,” he said. “We hope that these improvements will aid in securing the future of the shooting sports by encouraging more new shooters to the ranges.”
In his letter to the Association, received on Thursday, Minister for Sport John Eren said the Victorian Government was “strongly committed to developing the shooting sports”.
Read the October edition of the Victorian Shooter for the full story about all of the above grants.
