Over $650K has been awarded by the AFL to fund community facility projects across the state as part of the first round of the AFL’s New South Wales Facilities Fund in 2026.
The AFL’s New South Wales Facilities Fund endeavours to provide communities with the means to enhance their facilities and grounds, ensuring the continued growth and inclusivity of Australian Rules Football at the grassroots level.
Clubs, schools, organisations and councils are invited to apply for the Facilities Fund to unlock vital funding for facility upgrades and improvements.
As part of Round 1 of the Facilities Fund, 14 clubs, schools and councils have received grants to aid their facility projects that equate to a total project value of over $8.5M.
These projects include five new venue builds in Shellharbour, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Nimbin and Lake Macquarie.
Two new lighting upgrades will be ushered in as part of the Facilities Fund grants, as well as five female-friendly changeroom enhancements across the state.
Head of AFL NSW/ACT Andrew Varasdi said: “The AFL is committed to supporting our communities in New South Wales to deliver impactful facility projects, and today we’re proud to announce the successful recipients of the first round of the Facilities Fund in 2026.
“These successful projects will ensure participants across the state to have access to quality infrastructure and more inclusive facilities that play a vital role in supporting the continued growth of Australian Football.
“We look forward to seeing the impact of these facility upgrades in the communities in the coming months.”
Successful clubs and councils that have secured a grant for their local ground through Round 1 of the AFL’s 2026 New South Wales Facilities Fund include –
- Port Macquarie Hastings Council (Rainbow Beach Sporting Fields)
- Fairfield City Council (Avery Park)
- Parramatta Goannas AFC (Gipps Road Sports Complex)
- Byron Bay AFL Club (Cornell Oval Byron Bay)
- Shellharbour City Council (Shell Cove Sportsfield)
- Bellingen Bulldogs JAFC (Urunga Recreation Reserve)
- Federation Council (Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club)
- Gunnedah High School
- Orange Tigers ARFC (Waratah Sports Club)
- Central Coast Council (Hylton Moore Oval and Adcock Park)
- Lower Clarence Suns AFL (Ngayundi Yamba Sports Complex)
- Narooma AFC (Bill Smyth Oval)
- Nimbin Demons AFC (Bellevue Park)
- Hunter Central Coast (Watagan Park Sports Complex)
Since 2020, the AFL has dedicated over $23 million to community facility funding, which has helped deliver 53 lighting projects, 178 new gender neutral changerooms and 23 new ovals across NSW.
Details on Round 2 of the AFL’s New South Wales Facilities Fund in 2026 will be released in the coming months.
For more information about the AFL’s facility management and development, visit here.