Josh Bull suggests former Sunbury Masters site could become sporting facility

An idea to turn an abandoned site at one of the main entrances to Sunbury into a sporting precinct is kicking goals with locals. Find out why.

Sunbury MP Josh Bull poses outside the old Masters site in Sunbury. Picture: Facebook

A long-abandoned site once home to a Masters hardware store should be turned into a sporting precinct, Sunbury clubs are urging.

Sunbury state Labor MP Josh Bull’s push for the vacant site at 3 Deveny Rd — which was formerly a Masters hardware store before the brand was shuttered in 2016 — has attracted plenty of community support.

It is understood the Sunbury location is privately owned and leased and not part of the HMC/Home Consortium listed group, which bought up many former Masters hardware sites in 2017.

“The former Masters site in Sunbury has stood vacant for a very long time,” he said.

“It is my view that this site could be used for a number of different purposes including possible important future commercial development, potential sporting opportunities and more community facilities.

“Although I am not in a position to direct the owner or holders of the lease to act or do anything at all — I am keen to hear what options may be considered and I am hopeful they share those with me.”

The idea of turning the site into a sporting precinct sparked the interest of Sunbury locals on social media as well as the Sunbury Superoos Basketball Club after their “massive growth” left them “desperate” for more courts.

“We need more courts for Sunbury Jets Basketball Association. We can possibly retrofit it. We have plenty of ideas for the site,” Sunbury Jets Basketball Association general manager Chris Tighe commented.

Basketball’s rise in Australia has caused plenty of headaches for local councils as they battle for the space and money to build new highball stadiums.

Moonee Valley City Council has recently begun an expressions of interest process for a new stadium after basketball clubs were forced to travel to Caroline Springs for games.

Clubs in the Mornington Peninsula told the Herald Sun the “booming” interest in basketball had left them needing a 10-court stadium with their current facilities at capacity.

The City of Melton Council revealed its timeline for reopening Cobblebank Stadium after it was left with excess water damage earlier this year.

The damage left the three of the six courts at the stadium unlikely to open before June with games being shared at nearby Melton Indoor Recreation Centre and Caroline Springs Leisure Centre.