Knox mayor David Cooper and Sports Minister James Merlino with regional amateur players celebrate the turning of the sod on the planned basketball centre.
By Tania Martin
BASKETBALLERS are one step closer to taking centre court in a new south-eastern centre.
This comes as Sports Minister James Merlino last Friday joined Knox City mayor David Cooper to turn the sod on the long-awaited $27 million project.
Mr Merlino said the government was investing in grassroots sport to ensure communities remained strong, healthy, happy and active.
“Melbourne’s south-east has long been the home of basketball in Australia and with more than 43,000 players, accounts for 35 per cent of Victoria’s basketballers,” he said.
“This will be the new heart for Victorian basketball.”
Stage one of the project will include building six multi-purpose courts including a show court, which will be used for elite and showcase matches.
“As the new home of Basketball Victoria, the precinct will provide local associations like Knox Basketball, with fantastic facilities to develop programs for coaching, administration, and referee training at elite and grassroots levels,” Mr Merlino.
The new complex will also include an indoor recreation stadium, with capacity for a 3,500-seat show court, and two synthetic soccer pitches and a soccer pavilion.
“Basketball is not the only sport to benefit, the precinct will also include outdoor synthetic soccer pitches and act as a regional base for Football Federation Victoria,” Mr Merlino said.
Mr Cooper said the project was part of a three-stage vision for a sporting complex that would accommodate basketball, soccer, netball and gymnastics at the High Street site.
“The first stage is planned to deliver critical basketball and soccer needs, including providing for the State Basketball Centre,” he said.
The joint project has been made possible with $7 million each from the State and Federal governments and Knox City Council will inject $11.8 million.
The Football Federation Victoria will also spend $1 million, Knox Basketball Association $500,000 and Basketball Victoria will contribute $250,000.
Stage one of the complex is expected to be completed by mid 2011.
