GREATER Shepparton Basketball Association (GSBA) has joined the call for a $60M rebuild of the Shepparton Sports Stadium.
The stadium, which is home to the Shepparton Gators, is missing out on larger tournaments, keen players, and eager fans that are being turned away due to the lack of amenities.
“Starting our next season, we’re going to have 1,200 plus registered competitors so far, that’s probably the biggest competition I’ve seen in 40 years,” said Tony Long from the GSBA.
“At Gators games we’re sending people away because we can’t get them in, we can’t fit them here.
“It’s a massive and a great problem to have, but it’s a massive problem. We’ve wanted extra courts for a long time now,” said Mr Long, who said expanding the stadium has been a priority since the year 2000.
Federal Coalition candidates pledged $25M during the election, and while Sam Birrell MP won the seat, the Coalition lucked out at the election placing the commitment in limbo.
The remaining funding for the new $60M Shepparton Sports and Events Centre would be provided by $20M from the Victorian Government and $15M from the council.
Mr Birrell invited Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Dr Anne Webster to the stadium last week to call upon the Albanese Government to deliver the funding.
“My encouragement to the Labor Government is that they step up and fund this facility as we committed to and the Victorian Government also does the same, because our regions thrive when our sporting facilities are appropriate for the enthusiasm that is here and the skills that are here.
“We want to keep building our regions and this is one of the best ways to do that,” said Dr Webster.
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.
Mr Long admitted that the new build would not secure new tournaments for Shepparton, but it would begin to future-proof the stadium’s ageing status.
