Popular Carnegie Chargers Basketball Club can’t find enough courts to train and play
A fast-growing Carnegie basketball club is being forced to turn away young players because the region’s overcrowded courts are unable to meet demand.
Inner South
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A booming community basketball club is turning away players because Glen Eira’s overcrowded courts are unable to meet demand.
The Carnegie Chargers Basketball Club has grown to 90 players since starting last year and is desperately seeking a new home so it can take on new members.
The club, which also caters for young girls and people from diverse backgrounds, was told it could use the new $4 million gym at Carnegie Primary School after its previous outdoor court closed during redevelopment works, but they’ve been left in the cold after finding out the space would instead be used for after-school care.
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Chargers president Jodie Curwood said it was heartbreaking to turn passionate players away.
They have also been knocked back by Glen Eira College and the Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre, and basketball rings at local parks are often too small or come with liability issues.
Ms Curwood’s son had to move clubs because the Chargers didn’t have the space to add higher grade teams and were unable to accommodate his skill level.
“We’re constantly saying no to people … it’s devastating,” she said.
“It’s not just us either, it’s a lot of clubs trying to let more kids have a go and get active.”
The Chargers squeeze up to 20 players at once on the half court at Carnegie Primary School, but even when the outside court is reopened, it is shared with Carnegie Netball Club and is at capacity.
Council’s infrastructure and environment director Samantha Krull was aware of the space and facilities problems facing clubs.
She said the council was upgrading outdoor lighting to allow night competitions, adding multipurpose facilities at East Caulfield Reserve and Moorleigh Community Village, advocating for the inside of Caulfield racecourse to be opened for sports, and completing a study to assess future space requirements.
Glen Eira Council has 45 sportsgrounds, 26 sports pavilions, 10 outdoor netball courts, three indoor basketball courts, an athletics track, a cycling velodrome and two public tennis courts.
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