HOPE is renewed in a fully redeveloped and modern indoor sports stadium for Ballarat.
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Basketball Ballarat, with City of Ballarat support and at its suggestion, will make a new bid for a federal grant under the Building Better Regions Fund to complete the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre project.
This follows three unsuccessful applications under the fund’s previous form, National Stronger Regions Fund, including a definitive knock-back in early October.
The BSEC project is still considered to meet criteria under the new funding guidelines.
A decision to pursue funds to complete the project comes as architectural plans have all-but been signed off for BSEC $14 million stage one redevelopment.
Seeking a further $10 million to complete the project will mean the difference between six and eight courts, including doubling show court capacity to 3000 seats. The full plan features multi-purpose community facilities to cater for adult education, elite teams lecture rooms and regional sports administrative hubs.
Central Highlands Councils, Ballarat Regional Tourism, City for Ballarat and Committee for Ballarat have long backed the project for growth and pathways across the wider region in sport, major events and community purposes.
The project will redevelop Ballarat’s newest indoor sports facility – built in 1986 in Wendouree. The Minerdome expanded in 1982.
National basketball and netball bodies have already deemed Ballarat facilities outdates and too small for major tournaments and matches, especially compared to impressive new facilities in neighbouring cities.
Basketball Ballarat, at the City’s suggestion, will take a lead applicant role for the BBRF infrastructure funding bid. The association will represent key affiliate Wendouree Indoor Sports Group, which features representatives from the city’s netball, badminton and basketball ranks, and partner community groups.
Ballarat councillors have opted to pursue bid for a two other community projects under the new fund and, only able to submit two applications in its name, have offered to support Basketball Ballarat in a separate, non-conflicting bid.
Basketball Ballarat chief executive officer Peter Eddy acknowledged the City had many worthy projects to pursue and appreciated ongoing support for BSEC.
