SPORTING clubs wanting State Government grants will need to meet copmmittee gender quotas from next July if a draft Loddon Shire policy is adopted.
Councillors on Tuesday voted to put the fair access policy out for public feedback.
But Cr Dan Straub raised fears about community groups meeting the gender quota that will be set at 20 per cent.
Committees managing council or government land would be ineligible for State Government funds if the quota is not met.
Cr Straub said Loddon groups were “already leading the way” for female participation.
He said there were concerns about mandating gender balance where challenges existed to find volunteers.
Cr Straub said the principles of fair access were embraced but quotas should not be mandated.
Cr Neil Beattie said Bridgewater and Wedderburn were examples of fair and good access with plans top of the list for improved facilities for netballers at Boort Park.
Cr Wendy Murphy said improvements to facilities would encourage more women to be part of sport and continue participation.
Community partnerships manager Orrin Hogan told councillors: “The Victorian Government developed a reform agenda to address gender inequality in sport to occur over a period of time. An inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Recreation completed in 2015, included recommendations to ensure fair access and inclusion at all times for women and girls in sport.
The Fair Access Policy Roadmap (the Roadmap) ... has been designed to establish a state wide commitment to improve the access to, and use of, community sports infrastructure for women and girls.
“The Roadmap is being delivered through the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation in partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria and Vic Health and aligns with Victoria’s Gender Equality Act 2020.
“... all Victorian Councils will need to have gender equitable access and use policies in place to be considered eligible to receive infrastructure funding.”