Liberal candidate for Gilmore Andrew Constance has called on incumbent MP Fiona Phillips to match his commitment to deliver $840,000 in funding to complete the Gerry Emery Oval clubhouse project.

The Gerringong District All Sports clubhouse is home to the Gerringong Breakers Football Club, the Gerringong Jets Cricket Club and the Gerringong Touch Association.

More than $360,000 was raised by the local community for the project which has helped with the installation of dressing rooms for female athletes but more is needed to complete the renovation, including the function area and toilets upstairs, a lift for people with mobility challenges and a stairway.

Constance said the comprehensive upgrade of the clubhouse was long overdue.

“Securing this $840,000 commitment is a fantastic win for our community,” he said.

“People living outside the big cities deserve quality sporting facilities and this funding commitment makes it clear that the Liberals will deliver for the South Coast.

“This commitment to modernise the clubhouse at Gerry Emery Oval will only encourage greater participation in local sport and bring our community together.

“I would like to thank the Gerringong District All Sports board and membership for all of their hard work in bringing this project to life and for supporting my advocacy to secure this commitment.”

Kiama Council Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters and CEO Jane Stroud also attended Constance’s announcement at the clubhouse on Tuesday, along with Gerringong District All Sports president John Trevenar and members of the sporting clubs.

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“When John approached me four or five months ago, it was very obvious that the need to build on what the community had already delivered,” Constance added.

“It's exceptional to think that a community such as Gerringong can come together and build an amenities block, which for the first time actually starts to cater for women's sport in particular.

“Up and down the coast there is just this massive deficiency in female sporting amenities, and it's got to get fixed.

“You'd think by 2025 we'd be doing better with disabilities, with women's facilities, with juniors.

Andrew Constance with John Trevenar. Photo: Supplied

“So today I'm announcing that if elected, we'll deliver $840,000 to finish the job. And that caters for everything. It caters to fit out of this room, the bathroom facilities, disability access, the whole lot, to get the job done for all the sports that benefit from Gerry Emery Oval.”

Constance wants Phillips to match his promise so that if Labor retains the seat of Gilmore, the funding will be delivered.

“I'm calling on my Labor counterpart to actually pull a finger out and actually match the funds,” he said.

Andrew Constance with Kiama Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters. Photo: Supplied

“There's thousands upon thousands of people who will benefit from these facilities and they do need to be upgraded.”

When told by The Bugle about Constance calling her out, Phillips responded with: “I am certainly looking forward to seeing the detail on that. I haven’t been provided the information on that as yet.

“I’ll definitely take a look at it. It’s a great project. I’ve actually provided significant funding to Gerry Emery Reserve, $960,000 for upgrading the reserve and the synthetic cricket pitch that’s there.

“I provided Kiama Council with funding through the Local Roads and Communities infrastructure program that went to the upgrade of Gerry Emery Reserve.”

The incomplete Gerry Emery Oval clubhouse. Photo: Supplied