A PROJECT to build new changing rooms at a Wodonga oval was rejected under a federal government sports grants scheme, despite being among the most deserving.
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Wodonga Council sought $160,000 for the pavilion at Emerald Oval through the community program administered by then Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie.
The federal auditor-general earlier this month reported "bias" in the awarding of funding for projects.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison subsequently ordered an investigation into the program after calls for Senator McKenzie to resign over pork barrelling.
The Wodonga proposal scored 85.5 from 100 in Sport Australia assessment, putting it in the top 50 projects to be rejected for funding.
But fortunately for Wodonga Council, an application to the Victorian government for the same amount of funding was successful.
The rooms, which also have $80,000 in council funding, have now been constructed and will be used this football season.
The state money came from the state's Female Friendly Facilities Fund, aimed at ensuring women have changing rooms at grounds.
Also in the top 50 to miss federal funding was an application by Moira Shire for $500,000 to go towards new $900,000 changing rooms at the Tungamah football oval.
The project scored 86 from Sport Australia.
Moira Council chief executive Mark Henderson said it was "good to see" Sport Australia saw merit in the project, but was unwilling to comment on the politics surrounding its rejection.
"I'll leave that to other people," Mr Henderson said.
He noted the old changerooms, damaged in 2012 floods, had a poor rap across the Murray football league.
"They're really shabby, anecdotally I've heard them referred to as the worst changerooms in the league," Mr Henderson said.
Tungamah was in Independent Indi until last year's election, it is now in the safe Nationals seat of Nicholls.
Mr Henderson noted another shire town, Cobram, got federal cash under another program to part fund a $1.8 million soccer pavilion.
He is hopeful the Tungamah development will still proceed with the help of some funds from the Commonwealth.
The $1 million in drought funding confirmed this week would be a "pretty comfortable fit" to use on the changerooms, Mr Henderson said.