State cash for sports rorts club

After being caught up in the Federal Government’s “sports rorts” scandal, the Boxwood Hill Combined Sports Club has been given a State Government cash injection to help upgrade its dilapidated changerooms. The club’s $499,100 Federal grant application to Sport Australia was WA’s second-highest ranked application to be knocked back by former sports minister Senator Bridget McKenzie. Senator McKenzie resigned from her position as Federal deputy leader of the Nationals Party earlier this month after being found in breach of ministerial standards for her handling of the sports grants program. Federal Auditor-General Grant Hehir found the roll-out of the grant ignored the merit-based assessment process undertaken by Sports Australia, and prioritised funding in marginal and target seats leading into last year’s May Federal election. State Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray announced on Monday that Boxwood Hill CSC and the Shire of Kojonup would share in more than half a million dollars to help build better sporting facilities. The Shire of Kojonup will receive $309,995 to redevelop four netball courts and provide floodlighting to the oval at the Kojonup Sports Precinct. The Boxwood Hill CSC will receive $225,000 to help upgrade ablution and change-room facilities at its sporting grounds. The projects have been funded in the latest round of the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. “The Shire of Kojonup and the Boxwood Hill Combined Sports Club are to be commended for their commitment to providing quality leisure facilities for their players and supporters,” Mr Murray said. “Such facilities can play an important role in building stronger, healthier communities. “That’s certainly the case at Boxwood Hill, which hosts several sports including Australian Rules football, cricket, netball, tennis and hockey. “The club is a meeting place for the district where local teams, supporters and the community come together to enjoy sport and build community spirit and wellbeing.”