By Goya Dmytryshchak
Hobsons Bay council is urging ratepayers to join its push for the state government to contribute $9 million for the Altona Sports Centre expansion as part of the council’s 10 Victorian election priorities.
The council is undertaking an $18.5million four-court extension of the centre at Altona Meadows.
Home to more than 30 clubs and 6400-plus registered players, the centre currently has six indoor basketball/netball courts and two outdoor netball courts.
Centre manager Glenn Wright said sometimes more than 80 teams a week were having byes and new teams were being turned away.
“Everyone gets to miss a game every second or third week,” he said. “They can’t play regularly because we’ve just got no space.
“If you can’t fit people in, they’ll go somewhere else. Basketball Victoria worked out that nearly 800 players from Hobsons Bay are playing in other municipalities.”
Based on registrations in 2016, 54 per cent of basketballers and 44 per cent of netballers at the centre were Hobsons Bay residents. Most remaining players came from adjoining municipalities, including 35 per cent from Wyndham and 10 per cent from Maribyrnong.
Other top 10 priorities are more boat ramp funding, $20 million for sports infrastructure, more money for foreshore infrastructure, accelerating the Metro 2 rail tunnel, improved public transport, regional trails funding, climate resilience and carbon emissions reduction funding, a Newport Headspace centre and on and off ramps on the West Gate Tunnel at Grieve Parade and Dohertys Road.
To join the council’s advocacy campaign, visit participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
