Brimbank will require an additional nine basketball courts within the next three years according to a report from Basketball Victoria last week.
The Basketball Victoria Facility Masterplan outlined the trends of the game across the state, and shows the sport is experiencing rapid growth across Brimbank and surrounds.
The Keilor Basketball Association (KBA), which services most of Brimbank, has had a 34 per cent participation growth in the four years since the Keilor Basketball Stadium was redeveloped by the council, and would likely need further support in coming years if the growth continues, according to the report.
The stadium has six courts and seating for up to 400. Fifteen other courts are in use across Brimbank, mainly at schools. The KBA has 4125 members.
The report stated that if population growth in areas such as Sunshine and St Albans continued at current rates, and the association continued to grow, an additional three courts would be needed by 2024.
Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said it was pleasing to see more people taking up the sport, and the needs of the association and the game in general were part of council planning.
“It is fantastic to see that council’s investment in the centre has directly led to greater participation in sports,” Cr Giudice said.
“In 2016-17, 7190 games of basketball and netball were played at the Keilor Basketball and Netball Stadium. Council is delighted to see [34 per cent] growth in participation since the redevelopment at Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium.
“A review of the Sports Facility Development Plan 2016 is currently under way and an update is to be finalised in mid-2018. The plan identifies basketball as a key sport played in Brimbank.”
Caroline Springs was also identified as a major growth area for basketball, with the need for at least six more courts in the area by 2022.
The Basketball Victoria report said its goals would be best achieved by building three new centres across Caroline Springs and the surrounding Melton area.
