Chelsea Basketball and District Association needs more courts to train and play

The stadium manager of a fast-growing bayside basketball association is calling for more courts, saying they are “hurting financially” after forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars for more room to house their 200 teams.

Chelsea Basketball and District Association stadium manager Peter Caspersz is campaigning for extra courts and lights. Picture: Wayne Taylor

A booming community basketball association is calling on the council to provide additional courts.

Chelsea Basketball and District Association stadium manager Peter Caspersz, whose association has more than 200 teams, said they desperately needed two more courts.

“We would like Kingston Council to help fund these at Bonbeach as other cities such as Casey, Dandenong, Frankston and Sandringham are all being pledged new courts,” Mr Caspersz said.

He said the State Government had promised $3 million but couldn’t enact that until Kingston Council pledged financial support — about $4 million.

Mr Caspersz said it was costing the club more than $150,000 a year to lease other courts which was hurting the club financially.

The fast-growing association is calling for more courts as it’s unable to meet demand. Picture: Wayne Taylor

“The lack of courts has also been hard on families as their children are forced to play at multiple courts and parents are saying one of their children has to miss out as they can’t physically get them to different locations at one time,” he said.

“Basketball is such a family-orientated sport because regardless of the elements outside children can play a game of basketball inside and families can be home within an hour. It’s very appealing and valued in the community.”
Carrum and Patterson Lakes Forum spokesman Cameron Howe said the campaign had been an arduous, drawn-out process for the basketball association.

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“Chelsea are state champions committed to supporting the next generation to play professionally, and the extension will ensure that basketball continues to thrive locally.”

Kingston Council general manager assets Daniel Freer said the council had injected about $400,000 into the association including a new airconditioning system for the stadium and backboards.

“In addition to providing tenancy, the council has also helped them to secure a significantly reduced tenancy agreement to use the courts at Patterson Lakes Secondary College,” he said.

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