The Andrews Labor Government is delivering another cutting-edge sporting facility, supporting communities and budding sporting champions across the state with the next phase of the State Basketball Centre now underway.

Work on the centre started late last year and is scheduled for completion in late 2023, with construction of the steel skeleton now being installed using 1250 tonnes of structural steel manufactured right here in Victoria.

Backed by the Labor Government with a a $105 million investment along with a Knox City Council contribution of $27 million, the project will deliver new high-performance training and administration facilities for basketball, including WNBL and NBL teams.

It will also deliver 12 new indoor community courts for local basketball competition – bringing the total to 18 so more of the community can hit the courts.

Local organisations and clubs will be further supported with new administration facilities to support a broad range of sports, while a new gymnastics centre is being built to reflect the sport’s continued growth in the region.

New food and beverage venues along with a town square will add a communal meeting space for locals and visitors alike, while transport upgrades for the broader precinct will improve accessibility for the Knox Regional Sports Park.

Transforming construction hoarding around the site into storytelling of the land on which the State Basketball Centre is being built – proud Palawa woman and artist of the Mullum Mullum community Amanda Wright and Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place youth group, have created rich artworks that recognise their culture.

The project is also a boost for local industry and employment, supporting more than 500 jobs during construction and creating more than 100 new jobs once the centre is operational.

Through the Victorian Government’s Local Jobs First policy and Major Projects Skills Guarantee, small and medium sized businesses in Victoria are given more opportunities to compete for both large and small government contracts – helping create more local jobs, including for apprentices, trainees and cadets.

This project is being built with a minimum of 90 per cent local materials, with 10 per cent of total estimated work hours being delivered by apprentices, trainees and cadets.