Proposed local basketball courts edge closer to delivery

New basketball courts in Bayside are one step closer, with proposals for half-courts in Bona Park and Shaw Street Reserve likely to progress to the community feedback stage of development.

Bexley’s Evatt Park is also slated as a potential location for a court, subject to funding from the state government and further investigation of the site.

Presented at this week's Council Services Committee meeting, a report detailing the proposals resulted from a motion put forward by Cr Paul Sedrak in April last year – that called for an investigation into current and future courts in the area.

The report recommended that the committee endorse a 3-point court at Sans Souci’s Bona Park and Bexley’s Shaw Street Reserve, funded by council’s City Projects Program, with community engagement through the ‘Have Your Say’ online portal to commence shortly.

The cost of Bona Park and Shaw Street courts is estimated at $110,000 and $200,000, respectively, which will include benches, footpaths and bubblers. The possibility of a full-size court was also raised, but with a price tag of $300,000, this would chew up most of the allocated budget – although council hopes state government grants could fill the gap.

“Three-point courts are wonderful, they are great, but if we look at ward five (the eastern shore of Botany Bay) on a map, or ward four (Bexley), there are not full courts … I know there are parameters around budget but can there be provisions for a full court?” said Cr Sedrak, who spoke extensively on the issue at the meeting.

The City Services Committee meets on the first Wednesday of every month and oversees the provision, maintenance and improvement of local infrastructure and essential services.

As outlined by the report, the sites were selected based on the availability of parking, accessibility by active and public transport, locations of existing courts and requests from locals. However, concerns about flooding and lack of parking at the Bona Park site were raised.

“From speaking to locals…Bona Park is constantly flooded…I think that will be an issue,” said Cr Sedrak.

Inspired by his time exploring L.A.’s Santa Monica Pier, Sedrak suggested a new court at Sans Souci would be better located by the bay. “[In L.A.] they have this amazing integrated [layout of] beaches, gyms, playgrounds, squash courts, basketball courts all across that beautiful bay,” he said.

“Have you looked anywhere at Depena Reserve, that Dolls Point region…or Pine Park, it would be amazing from a leisure perspective, is it possible to put it on the table?”

Following these remarks, it was decided to investigate alternatives to Bona Park. A review of the report is expected within a month.