NSW Responsible Gambling Funds Infrastructure Via Grants

Rose Varrelli | March 21, 2020 | Updated on: July 3rd, 2024

Under the Casino Control Act of 1992, the New South Wales Office of Responsible Gambling sets aside some gambling profits for the Responsible Gambling Fund. This allows money to be allocated to initiatives and programs throughout NSW. Most funding goes toward programs to support responsible gambling and reduce gambling harm, but other projects benefit as well.

This month, the Responsible Gambling Fund awarded $4 million to community infrastructure projects.

Third of Three Grants

Last year, the Office of Responsible Gambling promised to reinvest contributions from NSW gaming machine profits into community projects.

For the 2019/2020 grants, there were three rounds of nominations for projects and then the awarding of grants. This month’s award is the third of those three.

The first round of grants in August 2019 benefited the following:

Five arts and culture projects, including Wagga Wagga Art Gallery = $584,594
Nine disaster readiness and community recipients, including Housing Plus = $$640,768
Eighteen sports and recreation projects, including Port Stephens Council = $2,832,922

For its second round of grants, the November 2019 allocations were revealed to be:

Seven arts and culture groups, including Maitland City Council = $605,656
Ten disaster readiness and community recipients, including Marine Rescue = $748,970
Thirteen sports and recreation projects, including Belisi Wellbeing & Equestrian Centre = $2,378,349

The announcement of March 13, 2020, pertained to the third of the three grants, as well as the most extensive. This one pushed out more than $4 million in grants for community infrastructure.

Third and Latest Round

Last week, the NSW Office of Responsible Gambling announced the 32 community organizations in NSW to benefit from the third round of grants.

NSW Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello noted, “The projects we’re funding will boost equity, social inclusion and participation – making a real difference in people’s lives across NSW. Since 2015, the NSW government has funded over 380 community projects worth $58 million under the infrastructure grants program.”

Latest Arts and Culture Grants

There are seven grants in this category, and these totaled $605,656.

Katoomba (construction of wheelchair-accessible studio) = $50,000
Maitland (upgrade of council gallery’s climate control system) = $200,000
Coffs Harbour (Key City Farm upgrade) = $83,100
Armidale (upgrade of heritage-listed church) = $53,028
Wagga Wagga (museum exhibition hall fit-out) = $76,000
Harden (upgrade for Country Women’s Association hall) = $50,000
Camden (council auditorium upgrade) = $93,528

Disaster Readiness and Community Infrastructure Grants

The latest offerings in this category ten organizations to the tune of $748,970.

Winmalee (disaster-ready community hall fit-out) = $12,100
Wirrinya (upgrade of community hall) = $60,160
Goonellabah (disaster-ready community hub fit-out) = $65,156
Ulladulla Marine Rescue (base fit-out) = $23,000
Bateman’s Bay Marine Rescue (base redevelopment) = $200,000
Tathra Rural Fire Brigade (construction of training room) = $166,400
Manning Point (purchase of bowling club generator) = $42,500
Ballina Harmony House (fit-out) = $79,785
Manly Drummond House (fall-safe window installation) = $82,775
Fairfield West (refurbishment of community hub kitchen) = $17,094

Latest Grants for Sport and Recreation

This category consisted of 15 beneficiaries with a total of $2,897,729 for sports and recreation facilities, the largest of the three parts of this grant thus far.

Cobar (construction of race club amenity building) = $253,000
Holgate (replacement of equestrian arena) = $142,675
Narromine Cale Oval (community sport facility construction) = $130,000
Ungarie (redevelopment of netball courts) = $219,380
Bowral Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens (garden construction) = $236,523
Old Toongabbie (upgrade of Gallery Gardens Park) = $181,860
Boolaroo (renovation of outdoor area at bowling club) = $105,202
Branxton Miller Park (creation of new community hub) = $100,000
Gateshead Hunter Sports High School (installation of lights on field) = $150,000
Eden Barclay Street Soccer Pavilion (building upgrade) = $144,645
Casino (installation of netball field lighting) = $237,388
Dorrigo (upgrade to field lighting at recreation reserve) = $232,056
Tweed Heads (refurbishment of inclusive play space) = $300,000
Eunanoreenya (building of accessible facilities at equestrian centre) = $300,000
Ingleburn Junior Rugby League (construction of irrigation system) = $165,000

More Grants to Come

Yet another round of grants will be available later in 2020. The application window opened on March 16.

Applicants can request $50,000 to $200,000 per arts/culture project or $10,000 to $200,000 for disaster readiness and community infrastructure. There is a higher cap for sports and recreation projects, which can be from $100,000 to $300,000.

All applications will be assessed by merit, engagement, viability and budget, and priority framework. The goal is to improve disadvantaged communities, such as regional areas, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, disabled access everwhere, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Those interested can apply through this portal on the NSW government website, via the Office of Responsible Gambling.

Applications will be accepted through April 6, 2020.