The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is offering clubs in Chester Hill the chance to apply to its Infrastructure Investment Fund (IIF), a $2 million‑per‑year program to help community clubs upgrade facilities. The IIF is part of the NSWRL’s Infrastructure Strategy 2024–2028 and a major application round is projected to open in May–June 2026.
The IIF operates on a co‑contribution model: NSWRL provides seed grants (commonly between $20,000 and $50,000) to kickstart projects and encourage matching funding from partners such as the City of Canterbury Bankstown and the NSW Office of Sport’s Local Sport Grant Program. (The Local Sport Grant Program is administered by the NSW Office of Sport; in 2025 the program offered grants of up to $20,000 per project with $50,000 allocated per electorate.)
For the Chester Hill Hornets JRLFC, who play at the Terry Lamb Complex (renamed in 1986), potential projects include converting existing dressing rooms to be more female‑friendly and upgrading to higher‑lux LED lighting for night training and games. These are examples of projects the club could pursue under the IIF and are not yet confirmed proposals.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said, “By elevating facility standards, we are making our game more inclusive for participants of all genders and backgrounds.” In 2025 the NSWRL distributed almost $1.4 million in IIF funding that facilitated projects valued at about $8.68 million across 12 community projects.
Club volunteers and parents are being encouraged to prepare for the next application window expected in May–June 2026. That lead time will allow communities to scope projects—such as making the Bill Lovelee Youth Centre more accessible under Disability Discrimination Act standards or improving canteen facilities—and to gather council approvals and co‑contribution commitments.
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