Work starts on Victoria’s new $132 million State Basketball Centre

Work has started on Victoria’s new State Basketball Centre as part of the expansion of the Knox Regional Sports Park that, once completed in 2023, will host up to two million visitors a year.

Commencing last week, construction company ADCO got underway with the $132 million upgrade and expansion of Knox Regional Sports Park that will deliver high-performance facilities for the WNBL Deakin Melbourne Boomers and NBL South East Melbourne Phoenix and 12 new indoor courts for local competitions and statewide championships - taking the total number of indoor courts at the facility to 18.

The Centre will also provide an administrative base for the Boomers and Phoenix along with Basketball Australia, Basketball Victoria and Knox Basketball (one of Australia’s largest basketball associations).

The Wantirna South facility will also host a regional gymnastics facility while players and supporters will enjoy the amenity of a new café and innovative central ‘town square’ area.

Welcoming the commencement of the building work, Knox City Council Mayor, Lisa Cooper stated “the upgrades will allow local sportspeople to have the chance to use professional facilities and experience the benefits of physical activity, team sport and the wonderful role modelling that can come from elite sporting heroes.”

Looking to rebound from a challenging 2020 with COVID-19 restrictions, Victorian basketball remains a high-demand, year-round sport within the state, encompassing 240,000 weekly participants and over 50% of participants in Australia.

Basketball Victoria Chief Executive, Nick Honey said the redevelopment would help support participation growth in the South East as well as elevate the sport’s premier status in player pathway development.

Honey stated “the expanded State Basketball Centre will be a great addition to the Victorian basketball community.

“The additional 10 courts - taking the venue to 16 overall - will give more players a chance to take the court and help fill the urgent need for more basketball facilities in the area.

“This redevelopment will also allow us to expand our High-Performance programs and set world-class standards for elite athletes. This continues the Victorian Government’s ongoing commitment to support the growth of basketball, which included a $5 million investment in 2019 into Basketball Victoria’s High-Performance Hubs across the state.”

The Victorian Government has committed $105 million for the project - the largest basketball infrastructure investment in the sports history - with Knox City Council increasing its contribution from $25 million to $27 million.

The gymnastics centre (for Knox Gymnastics Club) being built at the State Basketball Centre is to replace the existing facility in Ferntree Gully and address the large waiting lists for training and competition in the region.

Moorabool Shire Council has also announced that it is to build a new four-court indoor stadium to support the growth of Bacchus Marsh Basketball Association.

Images: Digital renders of the $132 million Victorian State Basketball Centre including the entral ‘town square’ area (below). Credit: Cox Architects.