The iconic Bathurst Racetrack at Mount Panorama, an athletic centre for excellence in Dubbo, a regional sports centre in the Tweed, and a sporting precinct on the Central Coast are four of the 15 projects funded under Round Two of the Australian Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF).

The Government will invest $200 million in Round Two of the five-year regional funding program, which builds on $150 million invested in the first stage.

Around $66.6 million will fund 15 projects in New South Wales to boost regional economies and create more than 2,000 new jobs before and after construction.

Sporting projects are big winners, with the four projects receiving $14 million towards their developments. The projects will attract more sports participation and sporting events to the regions, as well as providing an economic and jobs boost.

Bathurst Regional Council’s $6.07 million project will attract even more visitors to the world-famous track and the region. Track resurfacing, new disabled access points and improvements to the entrance of the facility are some of the upgrades.

Through the RDAF, a national-standard athletic centre in Dubbo will be funded for $3.5 million. The Dubbo City Council’s $5.3 million Barden Park Regional Centre for Excellence for Athletes will have synthetic running and field event surfaces and a 500-seat grandstand, attracting more events and offering a new focus on health and fitness in the region.

The Arkinstall Park Regional Sports Centre project in Tweed will receive $5 million to encourage greater local participation in sporting activities.

The Tweed Shire Council’s $42.04 million sports centre will address a gap in the sporting facilities available in the Tweed by upgrading existing sports facilities with additional courts, upgraded clubhouse, a high performance tennis centre and a regional netball facility.

The Narara Valley Sporting Precinct in Gosford will receive $2.5 million to bring the Gosford City Council’s $5.18 million sporting precinct to life. When completed, it will have new sporting fields, floodlighting and a clubhouse.

For more information about the RDAF visit www.regional.gov.au