More courts a game-changer: BBA

Bunbury Basketball Association says providing additional indoor courts would be a “regional drawcard” and should be the highest priority over other community facilities in the city.

The comments were made in the association’s submission to Bunbury City Council’s draft Sport and Recreation Strategy.

The association said extra courts at South West Sports Centre would cater to the needs of multiple user groups and attract national championship events to the city.

It says the new courts “must” include facilities and services to cater for up to 2000 spectators to support national events such as basketball, netball and volleyball along with community expos and trade shows.

It hopes upgrades would be funded in the 2020-21 financial year, but wants the council to pay for a business case which would include a needs analysis and feasibility study and detailed concept plans in this year’s budget.

“If we get this right, this facility will future-proof the increased participation and development of all indoor sports user groups plus become a major regional drawcard and local economic booster,” the submission says.

The draft strategy reveals that more than $44 million is needed to develop the city’s community sporting facilities – not including construction of new facilities – and outlines 22 actions and opportunities for the sports centre and surrounding sporting grounds.

The association says providing additional indoor courts should be the “leading” action.

“BBA believes the City of Bunbury should consider a staged development to ensure adequate funding is available to provide a quality regional multi-sport facility as a priority over the other 21 actions,” it said.

“Our concern is that many of the other 21 actions are lesser of a community priority, which will require considerable funding. Considering all actions in one development, in our opinion, is likely to water down what BBA, other indoor court user groups and the community see as the key requirement, which is clearly additional indoor sports courts at the SWSC.”

Mayor Gary Brennan previously said expanding the hard courts at the centre would not happen, unless there was significant investment from the State Government.

Mr Brennan said last week that the competing interests of all sporting and community groups was a balancing act and it was a challenge for the council to fund what was affordable and required.

“(We’re) always looking for creative solutions – if the basketball association, as an example, has a creative solution, then let’s hear about it,” Mr Brennan said.

The strategy is out for public comment.