Basketballers face losing state-of-the-art stadium if Pasadena High School closes

MORE than 1500 basketballers could be without a state-of-the-art sports stadium if an innersouth school shuts it doors and relocates to Netherby.

8/1/16. Following the news about a potential merger between Unley High school and Pasadena High School, the stadium could be sold off. Basketball SA and the Sturt Sabres are against this. Taylah Stallard -12yrs, Tayla Brazel -11yrs, President of the Sturt Sabres Basketball Club Don Rodman, Bradley Rowe 9yrs, Kaitlin Rowe -11yrs and Tamika May - 12yrs at the Passadina Sports centre. Pic: Keryn Stevens

• Pasadena High in talks to close and merge with Unley High
• School looks at merger option amid dwindling enrolments
• Pasadena principal defends her school

MORE than 1500 basketballers face losing their state-of-the-art stadium if Pasadena High School closes and merges with Unley High’s Netherby campus.

The complex at the Daws Rd school, which has three courts and regularly hosts masters, districts and school basketball leagues, could close under a proposal to amalgamate the schools.

Education Minister Susan Close last week revealed the schools had been eyeing a merger since November as part of the State Government’s voluntary amalgamations program.

She said parts of Pasadena’s campus could be sold for millions of dollars and the funds used to upgrade Unley High’s Kitchener St grounds.

It comes after Pasadena’s enrolments have dwindled to 150 full-time students.

Basketball SA chief executive Mark Hubbard said more than 1500 basketballers used the Pasadena stadium each week.

“It is fully utilised all the time,” Mr Hubbard said.

“Losing one court would have an impact, so losing three would be a significant loss.

“District basketball, social basketball and events such as the Under 18 National Championships and the Pacific School Games use the stadium, too.”

Each week during the summer season, the complex hosts about 18 competitions and 70 games.

The courts are also home to the Sturt Sabres Basketball Club, which has about 1000 members.

Club president Don Rodman said the club had been kept in the dark about the possible amalgamation, despite injecting “tens of thousands of dollars” into upgrading the stadium.

Over the past seven years, the club has installed fans, improved seating, renovated the canteen and donated an electric scoreboard.

Mr Rodman said if the school closed, it was imperative the stadium remained open.

“We want it to be kept a public stadium and it is paramount that the area is kept as a sporting hub – it is a great place,” he said.

“If it is sold, it should go to a private investor, the council or someone who can afford to keep it open as a sports hub for the local community because it is one of the best in the state.

“There is the potential to develop it too – you could make areas for cricket, hockey, tennis or more courts.”

Ms Close said whether or not Pasadena High remained open was in the hands of the two school’s governing councils and its parent bodies.

“The expectation, given the relative sizes of the schools, is that Pasadena is looking to move off its site and move onto the Unley site, but I want to stress its very early days,” Ms Close said.

“When you want a good range of subject choices, particularly in the metro area, you will see kids wanting to go to schools with enough (students) to create opportunities.

“Pasadena parents are starting to think that way.”

She said the State Government was putting no pressure on the schools to amalgamate.

“With Pasadena, there will have to be some careful decisions made, because there is a really good theatre and lovely gym,” Ms Close said.

“Whether they need to ultimately stay in the hands of the public rather than sold is a decision that needs to be made.”

In August, the Mitcham & Hills Messenger revealed Pasadena principal Wendy House was looking at amalgamation options in light of poor enrolments.

However, she said at the time there were no plans to close the school.

Ms House did not return the Mitcham & Hills Messenger’s calls before deadline.