Funding promise to resurface Rockingham courts

Rockingham basketball and netball could be given a bounce with WA Labor promising $373,000 to the Mike Barnett Sporting Complex.

The election pledge for the Dixon Road complex includes $352,000 for the complete resurfacing of the basketball courts to bring all seven courts in line with occupational health and safety requirements.

It will also include $21,000 for an electronic scoreboard, which the Opposition says will assist volunteers who currently enter all data and game scheduling manually.

SBL director Clive Higgins welcomed the funding pledge and said the expanding competition meant it was greatly needed.

“This will allow us to resurface the entire area because we have two concrete courts which give us limited use,” he said.

“We’ll have four full courts that we can use completely and that means we can play all of our domestic competition which has increased from 139 teams to 172.

“At the moment we’re having to play at high schools just so we can do the training so this will allow us to do everything here.”

Speaking at the complex alongside SBL administrators, Member for Rockingham Mark McGowan said the current surfaces were not up to scratch.

“I’m very pleased to announce that a McGowan Labor Government will support local sports through an allocation to the multi-purpose sporting complex on the corner of Dixon Road and Goddard Street in Rockingham.

“This funding will make a significant difference to the useability and safety of the flooring at the Complex, which is currently multi-levelled, mismatched and in desperate need of resurfacing.

“Once resurfaced, the Association will be able to host more domestic and Western Australian Basketball League games, and increase allocated training times at the facility.

“Living in Rockingham with my family, I know how important this sporting complex is for locals.

“The resurfacing of the floors, along with the installation of an electronic scoreboard, will provide the clubs, volunteers, players and spectators with a real boost, as well as creating jobs for locals.

“It is time for a fresh approach to community infrastructure in Western Australia. It is time for a McGowan Labor Government.”