By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY has slam-dunked $730,000 in funding to improve two sporting facilities for basketballers, netballers and rugby players.
Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty visited Casey Indoor Leisure Centre on Wednesday to announce that the centre had received $650,000 to expand the facility from a six to 10 court stadium, including a show court with a seating capacity of 1500.
The funding will also be used towards new player and referee change rooms, new entrance, reception area, offices, meeting rooms, café, kitchen, function room and first aid area.
Mr Delahunty also announced that the Casey Warriors Rugby League Club received $80,000 to install lighting at its Casey Fields venue.
Mr Delahunty said the funding was part of the State Government’s commitment to grow the economy, build infrastructure and contribute to the health and wellbeing of Victorians.
“The Casey Indoor Leisure Centre is home to a huge basketball and netball community headlined by the local Big V Basketball League side the Casey Cavaliers,” he said.
“There are also more than 360 junior and senior basketball teams signed up to play in the Casey Basketball Association and over 330 teams signed up to the Cranbourne South West Netball Association.
“With these indoors sports more popular than ever, the additional courts will give local clubs the chance to accommodate players, volunteers and spectators keen to get involved and make the stadium a truly regional facility.
“For the Warriors, the new training lights will enable the club to develop and train both day and night and cater for the growing demand for rugby league in the area.”
Casey Basketball Association vice-president and Casey Big V Basketball League president Simon Krug said the funding was a great win.
“We are one of the fastest growing areas in the state and we have seen a lot of growth in the sport recently,” he said.
“Since the Casey Basketball Association took over we have seen an increase in players by 25 per cent in just three and half months.
“This will definitely help cater to that growth.”
Mr Krug said the show court and seating capacity would greatly benefit the Big V Basketball League.
“We were finding with Big-V games, particularly finals, that we had to turn people away as there was not enough seating room.
“Now we will be able to seat everyone and aim higher to attract the likes of NBA level games to Casey.”
The City of Casey has contributed more than $9.5 million to these two projects.
City of Casey mayor Geoff Ablett said both rounds of funding were desperately needed.
“This was absolutely necessary because of the huge number of netballers and basketballers we have in the area,” he said.
“This is another step to get people of all ages up and moving and enjoying sport.
“It will also create a pathway to allow big Melbourne clubs to come out to train and run clinics for the community.
“We are also running out of room for rugby grounds, so the lighting will allow the facility to be utilised both night and day.”
