Orange Football chief Tony Mileto welcomes funding for female change rooms at Jack Brabham

Orange and District Football Association president Tony Mileto welcomed the announcement his association's application for the funding was successful, saying it would enabled the ODFA to continue encouraging the participation of girls and women in the sport.

"When you look at the numbers in football, we've got two and a half thousand members, I'm not sure what the percentage is that are female but [the change rooms] are also for other users out there at Jack Brabham Park," Mr Mileto said.

"We saw a need for it. Certainly when we are trying to attract a higher calibre of game, state carnivals, things like that, we need to have those type of facilities to be successful in those tournaments."

The $493,708 funding will be used to construct female change rooms and accessible toilet block, unisex toilets and a female referees change room.

Mr Mileto said he was unsure how many women and girls were playing soccer in Orange.

"I can tell you that in our summer comp last year we had 215 but overall we have a lot more than that that play in winter comps. We're trying to encourage participation and to do that we have different competitions."

Mr Mileto said the ODFA had not yet decided where the place the new building.

"When we spoke to council about it we were open to where they are going to go but there's not a set place yet. We need to discuss where it best suited for them to go.

"We'll put the DA in for them and try and get them done as soon as possible. As with any grant funding there is a period specified when they money needs to be spent and we need to adhere by those guidelines."

In announcing the grant last week Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Sam Farraway said projects like the Brabham changerooms build upon the NSW Government's vision to help make regional NSW the best place to live, work and visit.

"A major aim of the project is to provide facilities that cater for the growing participation of females in traditionally male-dominated sports and people with disabilities," Mr Farraway said.

"The proposed project will provide a safe inclusive environment where women, girls and people with disabilities can play in competitive games."

The funding comes through the NSW Government's Stronger Country Community Fund which has delivered $2million from its first four rounds across the Orange region.

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the female sporting amenities projects would make it easier for women and girls to be a part of their local sports teams.

"Better facilities and support programs that encourage greater female participation at all levels and across all sporting codes will go a long way to levelling the playing field for women," Mrs Taylor said.

"Many of Australia's elite female athletes started their career in regional NSW and we want to give the next generation every opportunity to discover, develop and hone their skills and prowess.

"It is so important that our female athletes have somewhere to change before and after training or on game day, instead of having to call in at home after work or getting dressed in a parked car."

The Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, which alongside the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund is delivering infrastructure and programs that generate opportunities, investment and jobs.

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