BSEC Works Underway
Construction work is now underway at the Ballarat Sports & Events Centre. All going to plan, the project should be finished by April 2019.
Disruptions will be kept to an absolute minimum during the construction phase and we do ask for your patience with any changes necessary due to building works.
The Association last week presented its case to Council for the Management Rights of the BSEC and we are hopeful of a decision during March. If successful is securing Management Rights we will then be developing to usage and operating model in July – August after input from all stakeholders.
Over the past three months we have been working closely with Government and Council on two other plans around BSEC. The first part of the new $5.135M plan is to develop a four half court 3×3 facility and youth fitness amenity on the site and available 24/7 for community use along with a re-skin of the original building and a refresh of amenities in the original two court venue.
While 3×3 is just emerging on the radar of the Australian basketball community, our National teams have seen success recently. In the 2017 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, the women’s team took home the gold while the men’s team won bronze. Our nation’s capital has recognised the impending growth of 3×3. Australia’s first purpose-built 3×3 courts were opened in Canberra in June 2017.
Ballarat has the opportunity to be the first to bring this new and exciting format to Victoria and the Western Region and again prove it is a leader of our sport. We are proposing four new 3×3 outdoor courts in front of the new Ballarat Sports & Events Centre.
The courts will serve as public activity space and form part of the neighbourhood parks available to the public 24/7. This amenity will activate the Major Events Precinct and be a perfect fit for the Victorian Governments Active Victoria Plan.
3×3 is great for lots of reasons and appeals to a new and emerging sports market. It offers a shorter, more recreational product as an additional option to a full season of regular basketball. Instead of having to sign up for a full season of 21 weeks, 3×3 teams can play a ‘season’ of four weeks, just a single weekend, or even casual games when they can find the time. Games are shorter, faster, and you always get more of the ball. The courts are also suitable for all-abilities programs and wheelchair sports.
The second $3.99M section of work would provide for a Regional Community Strength, Conditioning and Learning Centre to be added to the new BSEC facility. This development would provide a full suite of sports science and education facilities and amenities catering for basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton while also serving our target community groups including University of the Third Age, Federation University, local and regional schools and community groups.