A Lake Macquarie tennis club will receive some much-needed funding after their courts were attacked by sulphur-crested cockatoos earlier this year.
Barbara Weimer, secretary of the Bolton Point Tennis Club, said the almost $60,000 grant will go towards resurfacing the club's two courts.
"The present surface has been down for over 20 years and is desperately in need of replacing" she said.
On top of general wear and tear over the last two decades, the synthetic grass was attacked by cockatoos in May, an issue Mrs Weimer believes the club has resolved.
"We have put down irrigation hose to look like snakes and bought some plastic eagles to keep the cockies away," she said.
The grant has come at an opportune time for the club, having re-opened to fully vaccinated players.
"The club is emerging from COVID restrictions and we welcome anyone who is vaccinated and wants to play," Mrs Weimer explained.
The money is part of the NSW government's Infrastructure Grants program. This program is funded through the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund which reinvests 0.4 per cent of NSW clubs' gaming machine profits over $1 million into community projects.
NSW Minister for Digital and Customer Service, Victor Dominello, said that these grants are important for clubs and businesses as the state reopens.
"Some communities have struggled to maintain sports, cultural and other social activities during COVID-19, so the funding plays a pivotal role in promoting participation and inclusion," he said.
The most recent round of grants will invest over $4 million in 41 projects across NSW. Other local recipients include the Soldiers Point Tennis club and the Dungog District Netball Association, which will each receive around $60,000 for court refurbishments.
The next round of grant applications are open to Monday, November 22.
