By Oliver Lees
The Macedon Ranges basketball community is pleading for federal funding to complete the long-awaited Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct (MRRSP), as increasing demand for court hire continues to outpace available facilities.
The MRRSP – originally titled the New Gisborne Regional Sports Precinct – has been on the agenda for community sporting clubs in the shire for some time.
A need for additional sports facilities in the area was first identified during the Macedon Ranges council’s leisure strategy and indoor sports courts feasibility study, which took place from 2006 to 2009.
Tamara Collins has been advocating for the precinct for a number of years, and has seen the popularity of basketball boom across the sire.
Ms Collins said a new Macedon Ranges Basketball Association junior domestic competition had just kicked off, with 270 registered junior players.
Ms Collins said although it was exciting to see so much enthusiasm for the sport, a lack of facilities had forced the association to make uncomfortable scheduling choices.
“We’re playing on Sunday afternoon, which is a horrible time, but that’s all that we could find,” she said.
“The demand is there, [but] the courts are not.”
As the captain of the newly formed Macedon Ranges Rockies, which will play in the Country Basketball League, Tom Scott said it’s not only junior players needing more facilities.
“We would consider [the MRRSP] as a venue for our home games, but if they decide to half ass it, we’re really going to struggle,” Mr Scott said.
In June this year, Star Weekly reported that the first stage of works on the project were expected to begin in April 2022.
The precinct is estimated to cost $41.4 million, with the state government having committed $14.8 million. Macedon Ranges council is expected to contribute $10 million.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas has started a petition calling on the federal government to chip in $10 million to get the project across the line. To date no federal funding has been confirmed.
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck told Star Weekly that although there is no immediate funding, he would welcome engagement with local government on the issue.
