It's not the SCG or the MCG but the Hannam Vale Recreational Reserve is important to the people of Hannam Vale, and now it's about to undergo an $18,000 upgrade.

Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, has secured a $9000 grant for the Recreational Reserve Trust, which will complement another $9000 from Lands. The money will be used to build a catcher pitch and upgrade the reserve's cricket pitch, which is home to the small rural community's much-loved Australia Day Community Cricket Match.

"The Trust's secretary, Sherry Stumm, contacted me a couple of months ago, very concerned about the possibility of losing a $9000 Lands grant that was dependent on a dollar-for-dollar contribution from the community," Mr Besseling said.

"Hannam Vale simply doesn't have a large enough population to raise that sort of money so we outlined the community's case to the Premier and, as a consequence, secured the balance of the funding.

"The Trust is just one of about 100 local community groups that have received financial support in the past couple of years. It's not always big dollars, but their projects, driven by determined volunteers, benefit entire communities.

"This terrific result is due to the efforts of people like Sherry, who are always looking at ways to improve their community."