A $95 million plan to address sporting priorities over the next decade was last week endorsed by Hobsons Bay council.
A separate $5 million plan to alleviate the municipality’s shortage of tennis facilities over the same period was also adopted.
The council’s Sports facility needs analysis identified the top six fastest-growing sports as netball, basketball, AFL, tennis, soccer and cricket.
Short-term priorities, to be implemented in one to two years, have been costed at $33.5 million and include an $18.5 million four-court extension at Altona Sports Centre.
Home to more than 30 clubs and 6000-plus registered users, the centre at Graham Reserve in Altona Meadows currently has six indoor basketball/netball courts and two outdoor netball courts.
A new $20 million four to six court netball and basketball facility is planned for Altona North/Newport as a long term priority – to be undertaken within five to 10 years.
This is almost half the $44.4 million allocated for long-term infrastructure.
There are also long-term plans for new $6 million cricket and soccer pitches within the Precinct 15 development site at Altona North.
Medium-term priorities costing $19.3 million include $3 million to upgrade Digman Reserve for soccer and cricket and $2 million for upgrades to Croft Reserve for football and cricket.
The tennis needs assessment identified that the overwhelming majority of Tennis Victoria registered participants were from Williamstown/Williamstown North.
There were 777 participants registered from those two areas, followed by 319 from Spotswood/South Kingsville/Newport, 225 from Altona Meadows/Seabrook/Laverton, 192 from Altona/Seaholme, 66 from Altona North and none from Brooklyn.
The plan proposes $2.885 million in upgrades to the existing 14 courts and $2.3 million for two new venues at Altona North and Williamstown High School over the next decade.
To view the full reports, visit the council’s website.
Related: Funding call to fix clubrooms
Related: Altona Courts Expansion
