MURDERBALL, wheelchair basketball and Special Olympians are set for a more permanent home in the Minerdome under plans for major upgrades to the stadium.
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Basketball Ballarat has been approved for a low-interest state government loan of almost $770,000 to bring the stadium up to standard for hosting indoor adaptive sports.
The funding, under the Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme, will allow redevelopment plans to be brought forward at the Minerdome while works for the city's newest courts at Ballarat Sports and Events Centre near completion.
Basketball Ballarat chief executive officer Peter Eddy this was great timing to help position the city, and Minerdome, as a key base for adaptive sports in the state but facilities needed a retrofit to be suitable for team events.
Mr Eddy said this would allow Ballarat to host elite wheelchair sports, like the Rumble in the Rat intra-squad tournament for the Aussie Steelers ahead of their 2012 London Paralympic gold medal campaign. The murderball squad then featured decorated Ballarat wheelracer-turned-rugby player Greg Smith.
Wheelchair sports are based on court five, located in Ken Kay Badminton Stadium, but this revamp aimed to give all adaptive sports, including Special Olympics events, greater showcourt time.
Upgrades would include more all-abilities and change facilities for teams of athletes. A foyer extension on the stadium's bistro end would improve the slope and access to the wheel ramp and a life for athletes to go upstairs for a meal.
The loan is in the same pilot scheme, but separate to, a successful City of Ballarat $10 million maximum play to fast-track about 30 sports projects within its boundary while expediting critical female-friendly facilities across the region within two years.
Loan approval follows a $5.2 million election pledge from Labor to deliver BSEC stage two development, which will add a community and learning gym, new skin on the old Norman Street build and purpose-built three-on-three outdoor courts.
The $24 million BSEC stage one works are on schedule for mid-year completion. This will bring six new courts, including a 3000-seat showcourt, and training base for Ballarat's elite indoor sport teams.
Marquee basketball teams Miners and Rush will continue to call the Minerdome home for the inaugural NBL1 season, which tips off later this week, before a touted move to the BSEC next year.
Planning for a special final Miners-Rush regular season home game is underway with details to be made public soon. The final Minerdome home game is on July 20 (excepting potential finals).
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