Football Queensland will use the money to upgrade nine dressing rooms and referee rooms and add 29 unisex shower cubicles and 10 unisex toilets.

The funding is part of $15.2 million the State Government has put aside for its Female Facilities Program.

Waterford MP Shannon Fentiman said the new facilities were needed as more women were taking up what have been perceived to be male-dominated sports.

She said in Queensland there were more than 15,500 female football players, a number expected to rise to 22,000 by 2023.

“These upgraded dressing rooms will help boost the women’s game in our community, which continues growing each year, especially with Football Queensland’s U14s and U15s women’s teams already training here,” she said.

Football Queensland chief executive Richard Griffith said the facilities heralded the start of Meakin Park becoming home to women’s football in Queensland.

“It comes at an ideal time in our strategic planning, including the upcoming release of our Statewide Facilities Strategic Plan.”

Springwood MP and Sport Minister Mick de Brenni, said he had many applications for the Female Facilities Program, which provides grants of up to $500,000 to clubs for facilities so women are catered for at the venue.

“The sheer volume of applications shows this is what clubs need to help them address inequality in sport and boost female participation.”

The $15.2 million will be spent on 45 projects from AFL, rugby league and cricket to sailing and BMX.

NETBALL BOOST

Netball in Woodridge is set for a bounce after the state government handed Logan City Netball Association $350,000 to upgrade toilet and change room facilities at Ewing Park.

Woodridge MP Cameron Dick said Logan City Netball Association the money was to upgrade existing amenity block and would ultimately include three change rooms incorporating five toilets and seven showers, two umpire rooms incorporating one toilet and one shower, one toilet for people with a disability and a first aid room to support female participation in netball.