More than two million people a year are expected to visit the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South following a significant expansion of the facility.
Jointly funded by Knox City Council and the Victorian Government, the project has delivered 12 new indoor courts for local basketball competitions, bringing the total to 18 courts, and a new regional level gymnastics facility.
Knox Mayor, Cr Jude Dwight said this is an important milestone in realising Council’s vision for this sporting precinct.
“Both basketball and gymnastics are experiencing substantial growth here in Knox,” she said.
“This ensures the long term future for both Knox Basketball and Knox Gymnastics.”
Council has been working with Knox Basketball to facilitate the move from Knox Basketball Stadium in Boronia to its new home.
“Having served our community well for more than 40 years, the stadium in Boronia was in need of major structural work,” Cr Dwight said.
“With more than 10,000 basketball participants in Knox, our two stadiums were already at capacity and Knox Basketball Stadium had no capacity to expand to meet the demands of growing participation.”
In 2017, Council instigated a review of Knox Regional Sports Park to build more basketball courts, a centre for gymnastics and sporting administration facilities.
Council secured $105 million funding from the Victorian Government and contributed a further $27 million bringing the total investment to $132 million. Its Council’s biggest investment ever in community facilities.
“Local people of all ages, genders and abilities will now have more opportunity to participate in these popular sports,” Cr Dwight said.
“Our young athletes will train and play alongside their elite sporting heroes and will benefit from the wonderful role modelling that comes with that.
“What has been achieved here is something the Knox community can be very proud of and which the whole of Victoria will benefit from.”
