Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh, visited the Stawell Rifle Club and announced a $7,800 expansion to the shooting range.

Mr Walsh was with The Nationals candidate for Ripon Scott Turner in Stawell to announce the grant on behalf of the Minister for Sport and Recreation Damian Drum.

Stawell Rifle Club is providing a $6000 in-kind contribution.

"The funding is part of the Victorian Shooting Sports Facilities Program which is helping shooting sports clubs and associations build the capacity of the sport and increase participation throughout the state," Mr Walsh said.

"This club is going to increase the indoor 20 metre range from four to eight shooting bays by converting the existing skillion-roofed building into a gable-roofed building, which will provide equal space for bench rest shooters.

"At present the range only has one bench rest bay.

"This joint project will help Stawell Rifle Club continue to be an active and important part of the local community into the future."

Mr Turner said the funding would provide a welcome boost for the Stawell club.

"Sporting clubs and their facilities are a vital part of the social fabric of Ripon's communities," Mr Turner said.

"It is great to have initiatives like the Shooting Sports Facilities Program which support clubs to deliver local projects that improve facilities and help attract and retain members."

In the last four years the Victorian Government has invested more than $144 million in more than 870 community sports facility projects, leveraging a total of $603 million for new local sporting infrastructure for Victorians.