The future home of Cockburn Basketball has taken a big stride forward this weekend, with the WA Liberal party announcing a $4 million committment towards an upgraded Wally Hagan Stadium.
Cockburn Basketball Association has been housed at Wally Hagan Stadium for more than 40 years, with the election promise coming alongside an already budgeted $15 million from the City of Cockburn.
With nearly 2,500 playing members operating out of four external venues, in addition to Wally Hagan Stadium, Cockburn Basketball Chief Executive Tyrone Thwaites said the community has long been ready for an investment of this size.
“Like all good families, we have outgrown our home,” Thwaites said.
“Some would argue we could have made that same statement 15 to 20 years ago.
“The shortfall in funds [after taking into account the City’s $15M] is the difference between catering for our community for the next 50 years, or not.
“We welcome any investment into sport for the well-being benefits and community benefits it provides, with today highlighting a growing need for investment in the western part of Cockburn and Fremantle generally.”
With only four courts in the existing facility, the City of Cockburn’s proposed redevelopment includes an additional two new courts, administration centre, function spaces, changeroons, gym, kiosk and refurbishment of the current function space and show court.
“We are very lucky the City of Cockburn is both forward thinking and innovative.”
“They recognise the need to redevelop Wally Hagan Stadium and the surrounding Dixon Park to cater for the fast growing western-suburbs of Cockburn.
“However, we will continue to work with the City to press the need for four additional courts [not two] in order to safe guard the community beyond the next decade and for at least a half-century.
“Our work is not done – we are thankful to Miquela Riley and the Liberals for their commitment this weekend, but we now call on the current State Government to also recognise the importance of this facility for the City’s Cockburn, Fremantle and Melville thousands of residents.
“The work of the people in our rich history to get us to this stage can only be advanced with this redevelopment, and we look forward to working with the government of the day on bringing a much-needed project to life in Perth’s southern suburbs.”
The Cockburn Basketball Association has more than 250 teams, more than 4,000 playing and non-playing members, and a community that extends into three different City’s and five different electorates.
