By Aaron Cordy
IF Shepparton wants to hold world-class sporting events, it is not hard to believe the region deserves a world-class stadium to host them.
Whether it’s the ongoing roof leaking or turning away fans from the game because the stadium has already reached capacity. The court capacity is the bigger issue, with games needing to be played in other venues to avoid eight-year-olds playing games at 10pm.
The proposed rebuild would include six courts, a show court that includes a 3,000-seat retractable grandstand, new amenities, external works, with room and plans for future growth. Catering to more than basketball and badminton.
The disconnect becomes apparent with a $60m price tag to demolish, refurbish and rebuild a 6 to 8 court venue, equating to $6m per court. The cost sounds excessive on its own, but when it’s compared to a new stadium built at Adelaide Show Grounds with first-class facilities, which cost $17.2m for 4 courts. That equates to $4.3m per court. For an eight-court venue a generous estimate should come in at around $34m, which has members of the Greater Shepparton Basketball Association baffled as to why the official cost has come in at $60m.
Last May the Coalition Government committed $25m towards the upgrade and expansion of the Shepparton Sports Stadium, to transform it into the new Shepparton Sports and Events Centre. Along with the $20 million pledged by the Victorian Government and $15 million from the council, it should more than cover the cost of the stadium.
“As a Basketball Association, we need more courts that we can play on. We have four courts here, and we run games at Visy Centre [the old Wanganui school site,] which is a logistical nightmare. With young referees and me having to watch over multi venues is very compounding. The ability to work in one venue is obviously a great object of where we need to be,” said Tony Long.
