Council resolved to release the Draft North Coburg Sports Precinct Master Plan for community consultation, outlining its vision for the future of local sport which includes major changes to the Coburg Basketball Stadium. The plan confirms that the existing stadium, built over 30 years ago, is no longer fit for purpose. In the short term, improvements to the current stadium’s entry are funded and will go ahead to support users while planning for the new facility continues. These works are planned for this year. The plan also identifies some future change room upgrades at the existing site.
The Future
In the longer term, the plan for the basketball operations is to be relocated to a new, purpose-built larger court facility at another site (to be determined). In discussions with Merri-bek City Council, they understand we need at least 10–12 courts to accommodate future growth for basketball in the area. This move recognises that expanding the current stadium cannot meet the community’s growing needs, due to the constraints of the current site.
Completing a feasibility study and concept design for a new, relocated basketball stadium to allow for expansion of courts is identified in the plan however current timeframes indicates this work to take place within the next ten years. We need this to be a priority for Council now – and we need your help!
Completing a feasibility study and concept design for a new, relocated basketball stadium to allow for expansion of courts is identified in the plan however current timeframes indicates this work to take place within the next ten years. We need this to be a priority for Council now – and we need your help!
How You Can Help
Our government (local, state and federal) needs to understand that basketball is an important and growing sport in the area and that planning for our future is important to us all. They need to understand how many of us will be impacted by the decisions they make.
In the immediate term, we need all our members to provide feedback to council on the draft plan, at https://conversations.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/coburg-north-sports-precinct.
Please feel free to read through and communicate your own thoughts on the plan, however a few points you might wish to consider:
Please feel free to read through and communicate your own thoughts on the plan, however a few points you might wish to consider:
- Funding allocation for a feasibility study, site selection and concept design and planning for a new relocated stadium is critical and urgent
- This new stadium needs to accommodate not just current needs but allow for future growth of basketball in the area - at least 10-12 courts
- The feasibility, design and planning process should include extensive engagement with all members of the Coburg Basketball Association
- The above should be treated as a matter of urgency given the current stadium is recognised as no longer fit for purpose and is approaching end of life, and the lead-time for design and construction of a new stadium is expected to take years. The proposed timeline of 10 years is unacceptable, our sport cannot afford to wait 10 years for the above to happen.
- Funding for the construction of the new stadium cannot be begun to be secured until the above is complete, lending even more importance to getting this done as a matter of urgency
- Council in 2019 recognised Basketball as its number 1 growing (indoor) sport and identified the need for more courts, and yet 6 years later we're no closer to having a new/bigger stadium. It's time for action.
Please consider leaving your thoughts on the masterplan. Further community actions are planned, including a petition to be presented to council. We'll keep you posted.
Petition
The CBA has set up an online petition calling for council to commit funding towards the planning of the new stadium. Sign the petition here and make sure our voices are heard.
