THE first stage of a long-awaited redevelopment of the Frankston Regional Basketball Centre can finally go ahead after the federal government confirmed a $4.95 million contribution to the project.
Frankston Council has praised Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson for his help to secure the funding after an initial application for the funds was knocked back over doubts there would be enough overall funding for the stadium redevelopment to be completed once begun (‘Stadium upgrade thrown into doubt’, The Times 6/7/15).
Council will contribute $4 million to the stadium upgrade, the state government $2.5 million and the basketball association will put $1 million towards redevelopment the Seaford facilities to include four additional courts taking the total to ten and upgrades to spectator seating, car parking, change rooms and public toilets.
Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley said Mr Billson had been instrumental in securing the $4.95 million grant from the federal government’s National Stronger Regional Fund at the second attempt.
“This is an outstanding result that has been driven by the tireless work of the Federal Member for Dunkley, Bruce Billson. Mr Billson has not only offered advice to Council about the Australian Government National Stronger Regional Fund’s criteria, he suggested an appropriate amount to apply for and lobbied hard for our city to secure this commitment,” Cr Dooley said in a statement.
“I would like to commend Mr Billson for presenting the numerous benefits this project would bring to our region, to former and current Ministers. His persistence has seen Frankston secure almost $5 million from a much sought after funding pool.”
Mr Billson has traded barbs over the past few months with his Labor state counterparts, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke and Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny, over funding for the basketball stadium.
The former small business minister, due to retire from politics at the next federal election, has slammed Labor for failing to put in more than the $2.5 million committed to the project by the previous Napthine state government.
Labor has resisted attempts to have the Andrews government put more money into the stadium upgrade than was promised by the previous Liberal National Coalition state government.
Frankston Basketball general manager Nathan Jolly said last weekend’s announcement that the $4.95 million funding had been approved “is a great relief to Frankston Basketball’s 13,000 plus strong membership”.
Mr Jolly said midweek games would no longer need to be scheduled at 10pm thanks to the extra court space.
“As well as the additional court space, the facility will get a lift with improved and modernised conditions and start to evolve into a facility which is better suited to sustainably manage the increased demands being placed on it from all segments of our participation base.”
Cr Dooley noted the total $12.45 million budget committed to date is “very tight” but thanked all levels of government – local, state and federal – for working together to ultimately ensure the first stage of the project can proceed next year.
Stages 2 and 3 of a complete redevelopment to upgrade the stadium to a regional table tennis and multi-sport facility are being planned to be constructed by 2031 but the additional stages are reliant on a further $8-$13 million in funding.
