Playing Ball
New Centre Open to Interest
An expression of interest process will be held for local basketball associations and clubs looking to get access to new, multi-million dollar sports centre in Waurn Ponds amid rising demand for the sport.
Construction officially began last week for the Waurn Ponds Sporting Complex on Ghazeepore Rd, which will incorporate a range of sports from basketball, pickleball, dancing to gymnastics. Estimated to cost more than $100m, it will also include six multi-sport courts, parents, sensory and multi-faith rooms with more than 300 car parks with charging facilities for electric vehicles.
However, when asked which clubs and associations will have access to the facility, City of Greater Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said there would be a thorough expression of interest process, managed by the council. “We don’t know which clubs may have the need and we want to be fair,” Kontelj said at the site. “We’re not going to earmark any particular club for this site at this stage, we’re going to open it up.
“It will be based on need, as opposed to who has the loudest voice. I would imagine in 18 months, people would be playing on this site.”
It comes as Geelong United Basketball, which recently was awarded the management rights to the Geelong Arena, Surfcoast and Bellarine Peninsula basketball associations have spoken publicly about the need for further facilities to meet increasing demand.
The region will receive 10 new indoor multi-sport courts across major new sporting builds in Waurn Ponds and in Armstrong Creek.
The Addy understands there is currently a court shortage of approximately 14 in the region.
Council analysis back in February, 2022 recommended a major regional indoor sports venue with a show court catering for up to 5000 spectators, while highlighting a “huge gap” with indoor courts in the Bellarine region. “Based on this analysis the number of courts required to meet current basketball use is approximately nine courts,” it revealed.
Meanwhile, Kontelj said the council would explore a publicprivate partnership with its plans to upgrade the Geelong Arena.
“It will be a two pronged approach.
“We’ll be talking to politicians but also talking to private developers of sporting facilities on how we can put this project together.
“I don’t want to be reliant on state government or federal government money for infrastructure projects.”
Construction is expected to be completed at the Waurn Ponds Sporting Complex by early 2027.