The Tweed, Ballina and Lismore state electorates have failed to appear in the most recent list of funding recipients under the NSW Infrastructure Sports and Recreation club grants program.
The government says more than $6.15 million is to be distributed among dozens of community groups across the state in round three of The Infrastructure Grants Program.
The scheme is funded through ClubGrants Category 3, derived from gaming machine profits taken in NSW registered clubs.
Clubs receive a tax concession in return for their participation in the scheme.
It’s unclear whether any groups from the far Northern Rivers region applied although data showed they have featured in the program recently.
From cricket in Bangalow to food trucks for the needy
Further south, the Bellingen Shire Council is to receive nearly $280,000 dollars in the March 2025 round for a new amenity building in Second Connell Park.
The latest list includes 37 projects, after $6.44 million was allocated towards 46 projects in July last year, a government media release read.
Examples of successful applicants the government has highlighted include the Bill Crews Charitable Trust, which is to receive $250,000 to fit-out mobile food vans to service disadvantaged community members across Sydney.
A list released in October last year showed the same program awarded more than $115,000 to the Bangalow Community Cricket Club to replace their practice nets, while the Bangalow Tennis Club was allocated nearly $65,000 for refurbishment of both courts in Bangalow.
Club grants small change compared to gaming losses
The government says more than 880 community projects have benefited from a combined total of $152 million awarded through the club grants since 2013.
The money represents little when compared to funds reportedly lost to gaming machines across the state, let alone subsequent costs of gaming addiction, but none of this data was mentioned in the announcement.
The Wesley Mission reported NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming data in February showing an average of $24.6 million lost each day to poker machines in the 2023-2024 financial year.
Official total funds lost that year showed a record high of $8.64 billion, which the charity said was arguably avoidable.
Critics in the past have repeatedly described the disparity between the scheme’s funds and social impacts and those of gaming losses as an unsustainable disgrace.
Wesley Mission CEO Stu Cameron said the government’s ‘continued inaction in implementing substantive reforms’ was frustrating.
Statewide cashless gaming yet to be introduced
Supporters of the scheme have outlined several other programs aimed at mitigating gaming addiction, including a suite of measures introduced since Labor came into government in 2023.
Changes include restrictions on access to ATMs from gaming rooms, increased staff training and support for self-identified at-risk gamblers and a trial of cashless gaming machines last year.
Ten clubs and four hotels across twelve local government areas participated in the trial, including Twin Towns Services Club in the Tweed Shire, the only venue on the Northern Rivers represented.
Little was publicly shared on the trial’s progress but hospitality industry media reported only 32 active users participating in the trial as of September 2024 compared to 207 people registered.
NSW Hospitality and Racing Deputy Secretary Tarek Barakat had disclosed the figures in Budget Estimates and said $634,000 had been invested in the trial’s research and evaluation.
A report on the trial from the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform released publicly in December 2024 recommended introduction of a voluntary statewide scheme, to become mandatory when ‘a centralised system is fully operational’.
The panel estimated a cashless system for state registered gaming accounts would be ready by 2028.
The government said at the time it was considering the recommendations and thanked the panel for including transitionary periods in their list.
Minister credits club grants for helping close the gap
NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said of the latest club grants round it was ‘particularly pleasing’ to see ‘a big boost’ in the number of arts and culture applications this financial year.
Mr Harris said $1.6 million was being delivered to thirteen community organisations including Outback Arts and the Young People Theatre Newcastle in round three.
The minister is also responsible for the state’s Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty portfolio and said he was pleased to see both the Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited on the latest funding list for projects he said specifically addressed Closing The Gap targets.
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