Tara Murray
Hume’s sporting stars are set to benefit from investment from Hume council in the municipality’s indoor sporting facilities, including the construction of two new indoor stadiums.
The two new stadiums and upgrades to six existing centres have been highlighted in the council’s draft indoor sports plan 2020-2031.
The draft plan includes works to the value of $61,010,000 over the 11 years, with funding needed from a range of partners including the state and federal governments, developer contribution and sponsorship.
The Kalkallo Indoor Recreation Centre is set for construction between 2025-2031 and will cost $18 million.
It will include three multi-purpose courts and amenities.
The other new stadium is the Jacksons Creek Indoor Recreation Centre, which will be built in the Jacksons Creek ward.
It will include four multi-purpose court stadium with amenities and is scheduled to be built in the back half of the 11 year schedule.
Boardman Stadium, the main stadium in the Jacksons Creek ward, is landlocked and there’s no room for further court extensions.
Also included in the plan is master plan for the Craigieburn Sports Stadium, adding air conditioning to two courts at Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium, change room upgrades and air conditioning added at the Broadmeadows Netball Centre, extension of Greenvale Recreation Centre and replacing floorboards at Meadow Heights Community Centre.
A council report found the council’s indoor stadiums are operating at near capacity at peak demand times which limits opportunity to grow existing indoor sports participation or support the development of new and emerging indoor sports.
With projected population growth in Sunbury, Craigieburn, Greenvale, Mickleham and Kalkallo, demand for access to indoor sports courts will continue to grow and new facilities will be required to meet that demand, the report said.
To meet future growth in the Hume population and projected indoor sports participation, it is estimated that an additional 22 multi-purpose competition indoor sports courts will be required in Hume by 2041.The majority of these courts (15) will be required by 2031.
The draft plan is open for public consultation until February 26.
Details: hume.vic.gov.au
