BASKETBALL families across Ararat are breathing a collective sigh of relief for what they say is a much-needed stadium win for western Victoria.
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Ballarat Sports and Events Centre this week received $10 million in a federal grant to complete a full redevelopment in what will feature six extra courts and doubling capacity for the proposed show-court to 3000 seats.
For Ararat’s basketball families, the telling difference will be less of a juggle for club and representative commitments in Ballarat where a critical court shortage has put a squeeze on training and match schedules.
Female youth league manager Donna Dunmore, who lives in Ararat, said lots of families trek to Ballarat where there was greater opportunity for young players to test their games. But this often created a lot of waiting between team duties, particularly on Saturdays.
“We do have quite a lot of Ararat players there, in Ballarat, mainly for the experience of lots more competition and divisions for players to play all at their own levels,” Ms Dunmore said. “This will be awesome.”
Ms Dunmore said potential for expanded basketball programs also allowed for greater coaching and referee development. Basketball Ballarat had already committed to sending up-to-date referees to officiate matches in Ararat.
The BSEC development, which includes $14 million stage one works, will be a base for the region’s elite basketball and netball programs and multi-purpose facilities for community organisations, like University of Third Age educational and exercise classes.
It also can also cater to major conferences for western Victoria.
Central Highlands Regional Council chairman and Ararat mayor Paul Hooper said the BSEC truly was for the wider region.
“It gives opportunity to our kids and the next generation, which is fantastic, for more youth to participate in physical activity,” Mr Hooper said. “When the (CHR) council was presented with this, it was very logical why we should support the project.”